Peach Tree Times

Delta Airlines, headquartered in Atlanta, has been largely silent on the recent atrocities committed by Hamas and the threats to the Jewish community, despite its history of supporting social causes. The company had previously spoken out on social justice issues and implemented diversity programs and inclusion trainings in the wake of George Floyd's death. However, in the aftermath of Hamas' terrorist attack in Israel, which claimed the lives of over 1400 people, including at least 30 Americans, Delta has only released a single-sentence statement on the violence.

Ed Bastian, Delta Airlines' CEO, had previously released a lengthy statement on Delta's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace following George Floyd's death. The statement emphasized the need to address injustice and move towards a more just society. However, the company has not made a similar statement in response to the recent attacks and threats to the Jewish community.

According to a September 2020 report from USA Today, Delta Airlines released a pin featuring their logo and the slogan "Black Lives Matter" for employees and flight crew to wear with their uniforms. 

A Black Lives Matter chapter sparked outrage after posting a graphic of a paraglider with a statement, "I stand with Palestine," according to a Fox News report. Hamas terrorists used paragliders to attack a music festival in Israel, where they proceeded to murder hundreds of attendees and took others captive. Fox reports that videos of "horrifying rapes, murders, attacks and kidnappings" have circulated on social media following the brutal attack.

“Do Israeli lives matter?” asked Restoration of America Founder and President Doug Truax. “Not apparently to many corporations who loudly virtue-signaled about BLM a few years ago, but were deathly silent when the same BLM supported the slaughter of innocent citizens in Israel.”

Delta Airlines' silence on these issues has drawn criticism from groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), who called corporate America's lack of response "disappointing at best, disastrous at worst." In contrast, companies like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan have issued strong statements condemning Hamas.

The rise in antisemitic incidents is a growing concern, with a 36 percent increase nationally and a 63 percent increase in Georgia, according to an annual report by the Anti-Defamation League. This disproportionate increase in Georgia highlights the need for companies like Delta to address the threats to the Jewish community.

Through the month of October, Delta Airlines canceled its regular flights to Tel Aviv due to the "security environment" in Israel. The company addressed the violence in a press release, stating, "Our hearts are with all who are impacted as our people work to find safe alternatives for customers trying to travel to/from Tel Aviv." To date, this is the only statement Delta has released related to the terrorist attacks abroad, with the company having yet to address threats to the domestic Jewish community.

In Georgia, hundreds gathered outside CNN Center for a Pro-Palestine rally just days after the terrorist attacks in Israel. State Senator Russ Goodman, who was visiting Israel during the attacks, released a statement expressing solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community against the "disgraceful attacks" from both Hamas terrorists and terrorist sympathizers at home.

Delta Airlines' CEO, Ed Bastian, has faced criticism for his change of stance on Georgia's 2021 voting law. Initially expressing some concerns but acknowledging the law's expansion of voting access, Bastian later condemned the law, leading to questions about whether he had bowed to the "woke mob" for political and commercial reasons.

As Delta Airlines remains largely silent on the atrocities committed by Hamas and the threats to the Jewish community, concerns about the company's commitment to social causes and inclusivity continue to grow.