How To Go Through The TSA Ungroped (The Arrest Is The Downside)
Note how the ball-grabbing, government-employed rights-yankers in the photo don't seem to care. They just want their tasty government check for violating our Fourth Amendment rights daily. Neetzan Zimmerman writes at Gawker:
John E. Brennan, 50, was arrested yesterday evening and charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure after stripping all the way down at a security checkpoint inside Portland International Airport.Asked to explain his actions, Brennan, who was on his way to San Jose, California, said he "had disrobed as a form of protest against TSA Screeners who he felt were harassing him." Police noted that he was not under the influence of an intoxicating agent at the time.
According to a police report, "Mr. Brennan's actions caused two screening lanes to be closed and while some passengers covered their eyes and their children's eyes and moved away from the screening area, others stepped out of the screening lanes to look, laugh and take photos of Mr. Brennan."
He was arrested after refusing to heed repeated requests to put his clothes back on, and is currently being held on $4,000 bond.
His behavior is heroic. If a lot of people did this, maybe some panderer in government would do something to stop the $60-plus billion dollars of rights-violating uselessness that is the TSA.
This is good because the guy is well to be blunt FAT. If he was good looking or slim, I would bet he would be given more leeway.
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/38957
So call to all fat, old and ugly people. Please ask for the pat downs more often. By giving officials the constant close contact to less desirable people - they will start to rethink their choices. We need to burn horrible horrible images of the People of Wallmart into the brains of TSA officials.
Sexy or good looking woman protesting with stripping albeit would be nice to see will not help.
John Paulson at April 18, 2012 8:03 AM
I didn't read the linked article on Drudge this morning, but he has a picture of a beautiful model that said she had no doubt about the sexual orientation of the TSA agent that searched her.
Government perks.
Dave B at April 18, 2012 8:29 AM
His behavior is heroic.
It's also not illegal. In Oregon, there is no requirement to be dressed in public, unless you are going about in the duff to excite yourself or another. Looks to me like he's just standing there. Can't tell if he's standing up.
Steve Daniels at April 18, 2012 8:30 AM
Dave B:
I believe this is the story you are referring to.TMZ Story
Almost makes me wish I was that screener, for about 5 minutes.
tinygnat at April 18, 2012 9:42 AM
What I don't like about the Gawker article is that they've interviewed the guy's father and he doesn't have any idea why his son would behave this way...he hasn't been under any stress. And then it goes to poke fun that the guy works on the internet so that explains the odd behavior.
That's a frustrating analysis of an heroic act of protest.
Niki at April 18, 2012 9:42 AM
http://www.kgw.com/news/Portland-man-goes-naked-to-protest-TSA-actions-147876755.html
""And the machine went off, and I asked what it was and he said 'nitrates' which I know from Oklahoma City is one of the explosive ingredients," Brennan told KGW, "and I was not interested in being hassled so I took off my clothes to show them I was not carrying any explosives."
Brennan says he hopes his actions will start a trend.
"I don't think Americans can sit around and put up with this anymore. TSA needs to just do their job and not intimidate people.""
Sio at April 18, 2012 10:24 AM
Flash Mob!
nuzltr2 at April 18, 2012 1:21 PM
"His behavior is heroic."
Heroic? Sorry, Amy, but, that's not the word that I would use to describe someone who strips naked in front of children.
Charles at April 18, 2012 3:10 PM
Bar Rafaeli says she was violated by a lesbian TSA Security officer who groped her.
http://theothermccain.com/2012/04/18/what-i-needed-today/
gcotharn at April 18, 2012 3:56 PM
Really, Charles. Get over it. So some children see a naked man or woman protesting. That's worse than their seeing all the other people meekly submitting to authority out of fear?
Jean Finet at April 18, 2012 3:56 PM
Charles, maybe this will excite you:
In some toy stores, you can't buy toy guns, but they still have handcuffs.
Learn your place.
Radwaste at April 18, 2012 4:41 PM
"that's not the word that I would use to describe someone who strips naked in front of children."
Oh noes! It's a penis! A penis that isn't being sexually manipulated (well, not before the TSA agents get there.) A penis just like 3.5 billion people on this earth have. Yes, it is a horrible thing indeed that children should have to see a penis while they're waiting in line to be irradiated or have their own "swimsuit areas" felt over by TSA.
"Flash Mob!"
Teehee! I see what you did there.
Elle at April 18, 2012 4:47 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/18/how_to_go_throu.html#comment-3147966">comment from Jean FinetReally, Charles. Get over it. So some children see a naked man or woman protesting. That's worse than their seeing all the other people meekly submitting to authority out of fear?
Right on, Jean Finet!
Amy Alkon at April 18, 2012 5:27 PM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/18/how_to_go_throu.html#comment-3147969">comment from CharlesFurthermore, children have seen naked men throughout much of human history and whaddya know, the human race has survived. Children on farms have likewise watched animals fucking and not become serial killers or ended up catatonic in mental hospitals.
And again, children should be made to understand how privileged we are in the civil liberties the Constitution innumerates and how important it is to defend them.
Amy Alkon at April 18, 2012 5:29 PM
I hope that someday I have the opportunity to explain to my child why that man (or woman) is naked at the airport.
Sosij at April 18, 2012 5:54 PM
Bar Rafaeli was at Heathrow. Does the TSA screen there?
Insufficient Poison at April 18, 2012 6:45 PM
This is not, as Steve points out, public indecency. It is also not disorderly conduct under any Oregon statute I can find. It might arguably be interference with public transportation (http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/166.116_), but I think our Mr. Brennan might have a civil-rights lawsuit here.
Mark Bennett at April 18, 2012 7:23 PM
This guy is full of win.
And Charles, come on. It's a naked guy, ferchrissakes. Children are not going to be scarred for life over that. Put away the bubble wrap already.
Daghain at April 18, 2012 7:33 PM
I love this guy. I have 4 kids and am regularly accused here of being all "think of the chiiiiildren" but my kids seeing a flacid penis is not a big deal. Hubby and I used to go to nude beaches and camps before kids. Non-sexual naked just isn't a big deal to us. If we'd been there it would have been a GREAT teachable moment on civil liberties and bad touching.
Seeing more real adults naked in nonsex situations would help a lot with kids psyches. Right now they only see impossible bodies in very sexually suggestive situations. THAT is not healthy.
momof4 at April 19, 2012 5:42 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/18/how_to_go_throu.html#comment-3148740">comment from momof4When I was 12, a huge cockroach (or as they call them in Florida, Palmetto bug) hopped out of my suitcase after we'd come back from a trip. I'd never seen one and I screamed and my dad came running -- naked. Oops. Hadn't thought about it until now. I saw my mom naked all the time as she was getting dressed. Oops. I guess I forgot to be scarred for life.
Amy Alkon at April 19, 2012 8:06 AM
Once again, you can see that the person who doesn't mind going nude is somebody that nobody really wants to see nude.
Nonetheless, such antics could become a good form of protest against these TSA ball-handlers.
mpetrie98 at April 19, 2012 8:12 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/04/18/how_to_go_throu.html#comment-3148751">comment from mpetrie98It's pretty much the same way in Venice when the ladies have their exposed boobies protest. They're mostly the kind women could wear as scarves.
Amy Alkon at April 19, 2012 8:15 AM
In Georgia I once sprayed a giant Palmetto bug with so much roach killer that it piled up on top of it like shaving cream, and it just sat there and looked at me. Eventually it walked away out of the foam puff. I'm pretty sure it was impervious.
Insufficient Poison at April 19, 2012 9:38 AM
When I was a kid, my family's idea of a vacation was getting a hotel with a pool. One day I was sitting by the side of the hot tub, dangling my legs in (kids under 13 weren't allowed in the tub), and I saw a man on the other side doing the same thing. His penis was clearly visible through the leg hole in his swim trunks. My only thought was, how embarrassing! Someone should tell that man his penis is showing. My dad was there, but I didn't say anything to him because I just felt so bad for the penis guy.
It wasn't until a few years ago that I considered that the peep show might have been intentional. But that just makes me sad, not outraged.
Sosij at April 19, 2012 12:27 PM
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