On July 3, political blog Must Read Alaska posted a fabricated story claiming that Seattle outdoorswoman Sara Gamache had been removed from an Alaska Airlines flight for wearing a “Trump 2020” mask. According to the article, authored by Must Read Alaska owner Suzanne Downing, “On June 24, Gamache was removed from a flight bound from Seattle to Denver because she boarded the jet wearing a mask with the word ‘Trump 2020’ on it.” Downing claims that she spoke with Gamanche to “confirm her story,” and did not receive a response from Alaska Airlines when she inquired about the incident.
The story enraged followers of Must Read Alaska, who left comments including “I think it’s time we looked to find out if the Alaska Airlines landing permit for all of Alaska could be suspended,” “BOYCOTT AK Air!!!!,” and “I have no words to describe my disgust for AK Airlines except that I will never set foot on one of their planes again.”
In fact, according to Gamache’s own account, published to her website “Expose Alaska Airlines,” Gamache was not removed from the flight because she wore a “Trump 2020” mask. Rather, Gamache acknowledges she was removed from the flight because she first attempted to wear a non-functional mesh mask, and when asked to replace the mask, donned a new one with a Trump 2020 logo and the text “Fuck your Feelings.” According to Alaska Airlines policy, the airline does not allow the “wearing or display of offensive, threatening, or intimidating statements or symbols.”
On July 4, Must Read Alaska followed up by posting a graphic asking readers whether Alaska Airlines should change its name to Seattle Airlines.
Must Read Alaska is no stranger to fabricated stories, and has repeatedly posted false information and conspiracy theories over the last year. In August 2020, the blog posted a conspiracy theory that then-mayor Ethan Berkowitz had given special favors to restaurants he partially owns before enacting dining restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. The blog has frequently published false information and conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election. And in January 2021, Must Read Alaska published a fabricated story titled “Facebook cancels Assembly member Allard’s page,” which alleged that the social media giant had kicked the conservative Assemblymember off of its network. In fact, as the Alaska Landmine reported in early February, Allard had deleted her own Facebook account.
The Alaska Landmine reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment regarding the June 24 incident with Gamache, but has not received a response.
Update: Following the publication of this article, Must Read Alaska doubled down on its fabricated story. In “Woman who wore Trump mask on jet starts website to ‘expose Alaska Airlines,'” published midday on Friday, Downing falsely claims that Gamache “was kicked of an Alaska Airlines jet on June 24 because of her Trump mask.”
Not really a fake story.
Why you always got a stick in your ass jeff?
Except that it was completely fake. Suzanne said the woman was kicked off for a Trump mask. But she wasn’t. She was kicked off for wearing a mask that said “fuck” on it, and for arguing with the flight attendants. Why do people like Downing have to make up lies about being persecuted? Is it because–gasp–there aren’t enough real examples?
Ohhh boohooo fake newwwwws
Any delays to the flight were caused by the overzealous flight attendant who took personal offense to the political statement on Sara’s mask. It’s pretty clear to those of us on the right why she was kicked off.
But to see Jeff Landfield’s weird-ass media crew constantly take shots at Suzanne for the bleeding gums Juneau and anchorage liberals is just pathetic. Let the right have their fun, it’s not like we see the same thing from the Landmine, MSNBC, Fox News, and everyone else. This culture war is a blast, ain’t it?!
What a snow flake you are
Suzanne has a long history of lying and embellished stories. She does not even live in Alaska, so why the fuck do I care what she thinks or writes? Why not call it must read Florida? Don’t like Ak air? Don’t fly on them grow up.
Facts matter asshat…
Sadly, that’s not how airlines operate. Passengers like ganache who don’t comply, refuse, argue and then play victim are the reason for the delay. She was given MULTIPLE chances to comply with Alaska’s requests to wear an appropriate mask, she refused then FINALLY switched only when told she was being removed. Do you really think airlines kick people Off for wearing political masks?? We see political Hats, t shirts and masks every day on airplanes and it’s not an issue. The language on the mask was the issue. It takes A LOT TO BE THROWN OFF THE PLANE!! Use your… Read more »
Yes they do…we were removed for my husbands hat that said “Lets Go Brandon”. He removed it when the flight attendant asked him to…..a few minutes later, they told us we were being removed because she felt threatened!
Suzanne Downing has no reservations whatsoever about lying or making up stories entirely if it’ll amp up her deluded, conspiracy-addled readership. Alaska could use another conservative-leaning outlet, but the problem with MRA is you never know if she’s just making things up or not (or just spreading other people’s lies without question).
Did you see the video that Gamache herself posted? It shows her arguing with the stewardesses. And it doesn’t even show the beginning of the interaction (which got her kicked off). My guess is that there is more to this story that Gamache doens’t want you to see, though even what Gamache has shared has shown why she was given the boot. These people have persecution complexes bigger than their pickups.
Suzanne doesn’t hold candle to the ADN for fake stories.
You know the ADN is owned by Republicans? facts matter
Please name some of these fake ADN stories. Links would be appreciated, but provide at least enough information for me to find which one(s) you’re taking about. Thanks in advance, Julie!
SD even lies about being in Alaska and experiencing the weather when she is in Florida. Her site says reporting from somewhere in Alaska-when she is in Florida. You have to hand it to her. As a fiction writer she crafts a solid personal fantasy.
Must Read Alaska is just the locally visible mushroom sprouting out of the giant network of conspiracy theories, victim complexes, and delusion that has infected the Trump-era Republican Party. Even if MRA shut down overnight, three more deluded conspiracy blogs would sprout up to take its place. As someone who grew up in the 1960s, I cannot possibly emphasize enough how far the Republican party as fallen.
Her video clearly shows her arguing.. another entitled Karen.. thinks rules dont apply to her
Between Downing’s and Medred’s sites, in the comments, one can become mesmerized by the sheer magnitude of some people’s need to experience freedumb. On MRA, Fat Chance Art’s essays brings out the best of ’em.
This lady didn’t get kicked off of a plane “because of her Trump mask” as MRAK reported. She got kicked off because her antics, including demanding the flight attendants show her written policies, made the pilot feel uncomfortable about the prospect of having her in the plane at 5 miles of altitude. The video that she posted of herself innocently clad in a plain black mask was the fourth go-around per her own account. If the interaction she filmed and posted is any indication of her prior behavior, she, not the flight attendants, was the bully. No wonder the other… Read more »
That bit about Berkowitz’s supposed favoring of other restaurants he opened did a ton of damage; I heard it parroted by several different people.
This article is garbage. Hope media stops being bias and reports facts versus opinions or agendas. Your lack of professionalism leaves me to believe that you dislike to a higher level must read Alaska. I disagree with how you present the story! However I’m still doing my own research for the facts. Media nowadays is pure garbage.
Richard Rhyner, is that you? Judging by your God-awful grammar and twisted logic, maybe so.
Wow, insulting people who have different opinions online in an effort to make yourself feel better … grow tf up Brian.
One of the few reasons why I chose to travel with Alaska airlines is that the Alaska airlines cancel flight online procedure and refund Policy offers so much flexibility. It has been really helpful to me at times.