Portland man protests TSA pat down by disrobing

[inigo88]

Story here: http://www.cnn.com/2012/04/19/travel/oregon-airport-naked-protest/

Seems like a very Oregon way to handle that situation.

(CNN) -- John Brennan says he did not go to the Portland International Airport intending to get naked.
But after feeling harassed by airport screeners Tuesday, the 50-year-old Portland, Oregon, man stripped off his clothes in a protest that brought him even more attention from airport authorities, national headlines and a short stint in jail.

"I just took off my clothes and said 'See, I don't have any explosives,'" Brennan told CNN on Wednesday. "The individuals at TSA are just doing their job and the whole organization needs to find a balance between safety and privacy . They use fear and intimidation and it's got to stop somewhere."

The Transportation Security Administration had a different take on the incident.

"TSA partners with the traveling public to screen all passengers safely and efficiently. When a passenger chooses to be purposefully disruptive, we notify law enforcement," the organization said in a statement.

Brennan said he lives in Portland and was traveling to San Jose, California, for business. After he went through the metal detector and was patted down, a screener told him he tested positive for explosives, he said.

Brennan said he felt "humiliated," and decided to take off all his clothes.

He is no stranger to naked protest as he has participated in a nude bike ride in Portland, he said.
"I am aware that's a tool I can use for free speech," he said. "I know that as an Oregonian and as a citizen, one of my ways of expressing myself is being naked. It gets people's attention."

And it did.

Police said some passengers shielded their children's eyes, while others laughed and snapped photos.

TSA officials called police. Brennan was handcuffed and walked back to a holding room while officers draped a blanket on him.

He was taken to a county jail, and now faces charges of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
Brennan says it was worth it.

"I'm choosing liberty because my privacy and constitutional liberties are worth fighting for," he said.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

I'm not sure I agree with his method, but I agree with his point.

 

[Itchy]

I wish Victoria's Secret models felt the same way.

 

[Bud01]

they still accused him of hiding something

 

[gotWXdagain]

I'm not sure I agree with his method, but I agree with his point.

You would if it was Megan Fox.

 

[Firebird2XC]

This guy has the right idea. People used to risk their lives readily and willingly to ensure their liberties were not trampled.

All this guy did was show the world his birthday suit. The TSA is out of control, and seriously need to be reined in. Down with the TSA!

 

[jynxyjoe]

You would if it was Megan Fox.

Cue user posting saying Megan Fox not hot enough, it should be another chick.

Devolving into picture thread of celeb stars in 10...9...

 

[Autothrust Blue]

This guy has the right idea. People used to risk their lives readily and willingly to ensure their liberties were not trampled.

All this guy did was show the world his birthday suit. The TSA is out of control, and seriously need to be reined in. Down with the TSA!

Of all the stupid stuff the TSA is responsible for, one very important thing they're not (that they should be) is airport badging.

I won't be stripping down at a checkpoint anytime soon, but I have to admire the hilarity and effectiveness.

 

[Itchy]

 

[gotWXdagain]

Of all the stupid stuff the TSA is responsible for, one very important thing they're not (that they should be) is airport badging.

They actually do do airport badges, sort of. The whole "if there's an airline operating at an airport, then every pilot that calls that airport their home base must have a badge to access the ramp of that airport" sort of mumbo jumbo. Although outside our airport, I haven't really encountered an airport that actually does enforce the rules (not your home airport + airline service = you can't be on the ramps unless escorted or in the shadow of your airplane).

 

[Tommay85]

They actually do do airport badges, sort of. The whole "if there's an airline operating at an airport, then every pilot that calls that airport their home base must have a badge to access the ramp of that airport" sort of mumbo jumbo. Although outside our airport, I haven't really encountered an airport that actually does enforce the rules (not your home airport + airline service = you can't be on the ramps unless escorted or in the shadow of your airplane).

I found this INCREDIBLY annoying when I diverted to MSP once. Badge got ripped off while loading cargo and wasn't in the mood to unload to find it. Of course Signature in MSP couldn't give too poops about a cargo plane, so it to forever to get out of there once the weather lifted at my home base. If it weren't for the risk of being labeled a terrorist, I would right a letter to the TSA stating that I don't need a badge to hop in my cargo plane full of rubber dog poop, fly over to MSP from STP and BLAMMO it into the terminal. Just like it's completely pointless for an airline pilot to go through security.

Love love LOVE this part of the story:
"I know that as an Oregonian and as a citizen, one of my ways of expressing myself is being naked. It gets people's attention."
Indeed it does good sir!

 

[MikeD]

Kind of a stupid thing to do, as you're only going to get arrested. The problem isn't at one TSA checkpoint, the problems with stem from the policies high above. That's where they need to get attacked. Ending up in the hoosgow, rather than traveling to where he was going......sounds like he probably curtailed his own liberties, rather than the TSA doing it for him. But by the same token, they are his liberties to curtail if sees fit to do so; so I hope county lockup is comfortable at least, for the night or two or three he might spend there.

 

[///AMG]

Gotta say that I laughed, that must have been pretty entertaining. Being an OR willamette valley native, I can imagine the kind of guy involved, but i have to admit that is more original than the typical whining eugene/pdx protester. I also have been unfortunate enough to witness said nude pdx bike ride, and that is a hell I wouldn't wish on anyone. Much like a nude beach but with spread cheeks and more jiggling fat

 

[MikeD]

I also have been unfortunate enough to witness said nude pdx bike ride, and that is a hell I wouldn't wish on anyone. Much like a nude beach but with spread cheeks and more jiggling fat

Maybe the military should incorporate it into SERE interrogations.....

[as nude bike ride is circling around you, getting closer and closer to you] "......Ill talk!! Ill tell you whatever you want to know!! Just make them STOPPPPP!!!!!"

 

[///AMG]

That would have probably been better......as it was, a clone of you and a hot young girl took turns working me over.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

50 yrs old...wow!

 

[Tommay85]

Maybe the military should incorporate it into SERE interrogations.....

[as nude bike ride is circling around you, getting closer and closer to you] "......Ill talk!! Ill tell you whatever you want to know!! Just make them STOPPPPP!!!!!"

It's gotta be those weird bike seats too so their stuff is, uh, swinging, and the bike farts can engulf the room more easily.

 

[Cptnchia]

I also have been unfortunate enough to witness said nude pdx bike ride, and that is a hell I wouldn't wish on anyone. Much like a nude beach but with spread cheeks and more jiggling fat

I too had the unfortunate luck to happen upon World Nude Bike Ride '11 in SFO last summer. Needless to say, the only person I saw who had any business being naked was only topless, and those who were sans all should have been covered up like it was Nome in January.

And yes, I do have pictures, but Kristie and MQAAOrd would have epileptic fits if I posted them here. Some things are better left alone.

 

[NickH]

And why, pray tell, did you decide to take pictures of these persons?

 

[Cptnchia]

So I could prove to the wife that it's not all fun and sunshine on layovers. Besides, I knew that there would eventually be a thread where they they would be relevant.