Due to heightened security measures of the "Code Orange" level of government repression, Gary Rumor was banned by Southwest Airlines from flying to the Bay Area this past weekend to attend the SF Anarchist Book Fair and the Anarchist Conference, where he was scheduled to lead a workshop.

This was not because of any warrants or arrests. He was detained at the airport for 12 hours because of his political viewpoints. No arrest was made, and he was released too late to arrange alternative travel arrangements. He was not informed about being on any no-fly list before arriving at the airport, and was not permitted to leave once he checked in.

Anti-war and other activists has often recently found their names on a no-fly list when they attempt to travel. Airlines will not tell them why they are on the list or who in fact creates those lists. As far as I know, there is no way to know if you're on the list until you check in for a flight, and at that point you're detained. Often, activists have only been held for a couple of hours, just enough time for them to miss their flights.

Unfortunately, this isn't something you can plan to avoid, unless you eschew air travel completely. Just be aware that this could happen to anyone, even if she or he has a clean record and/or does not participate in militant street activity.