Man Protests TSA With Nudity

New submitter blindbat writes "John E. Brennon 'said he was fed up with being harassed by airport security stripped to his birthday suit while in an airport screening lane Tuesday evening and was arrested.'"

Comments

hope it was worth the megan's law list

[alen]

now every time he applies for a job he will come up on the sex offender search

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[19thNervousBreakdown]

Hooray for our puritanical society. Two people could beat the living shit out of each other in front of kids, which is almost certainly far more damaging to a kid's psyche than this incident, and as long as they don't press charges on each other, the most they'd get is a disturbing the peace ticket. Police officers will publicly taser (effectively, short-term torture) anyone who doesn't follow their instructions immediately and without question, although arguably that's a good lesson for a child to learn. But appearing naked in a context where they're voluntary observers at most (i.e. they can look away, and there's no stress at doing so because nobody is observing them back, making it more akin to seeing someone naked on an ultra-hi-def 3D TV than an encounter with a pervert), and he's a child molester. It's ridiculous, and anybody with an ounce of sense will see that if they actually look at the details, but the automated list escalates the offense from a silly if ill-conceived protest to a potentially life-ruining thing. I don't care if it was somebody protesting for increased TSA searches and power, the offense does not deserve that.

I personally think this guy is a hero. If he needs any help with legal costs or finding employment in the future, I'll be donating for sure. My thanks to anyone who draws more attention to how screwed up the state of things is, especially if it's in such a funny way.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[NatasRevol]

Police officers will publicly taser (effectively, short-term torture) anyone who doesn't follow their instructions immediately and without question, although arguably that's a good lesson for a child to learn.

Why the fuck would that be a good lesson for anyone, much less a child.

Obey immediately or get tortured?

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[Sperbels]

because, really, what sane or stable person does that?

One making a political statement.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[sjames]

Meanwhile, any kids who might have seen his protest will soon enough be fondled by the TSA, but that's somehow considered perfectly fine by the feds.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[dargaud]

I'm sure there are more constructive ways to protest than stripping in an airport in front of people.

It generated more news than any other TSA protest in memory. That was a win.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[19thNervousBreakdown]

Sorry, I left out part of the sentence I'd meant to put in there, and thought it wasn't worth a self-reply to clarify due to obviousness (forgetting that it's obviously going to be obvious to me, I was thinking it, but not necessarily obvious what I meant to others, who are used to people with awful opinions posting on slashdot): I think it's an horrific thing that it happens, and that the lesson is one of the most traumatic things a child is can be subjected to, but it's better than being ignorant of it.

I say arguably, because some might think ignorance of the reality is better, at least until they're likely to have to deal with it personally.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[Jesus_666]

"American cops are scary and can easily ruin your day so keep your distance and act inconspicious when you can't" seems like a perfectly good lesson to learn.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[kimvette]

My friend's dad is on the list - he ducked behind a bush to urinate out of sight because no public restrooms were available. Some prude saw him go behind the bush but didn't actually see him urinate, was "offended" and called the cops. It ended his teaching career because he is now on the sex offender registry. It is total bullshit. Another thing that can land you there: if you get laid and the chick later changes her mind and presses rape charges, even though she was totally willing at the time. Congrats, you scoring at the bar the other night might just have landed you on a sex offender list.

Besides, what the hell is wrong with nudity? Why are we in America so terrified of the human body?

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[Anonymous Coward]

To paraphrase "Alice's Restaurant":

If one person strips at the TSA checkpoint they'll think he's crazy and won't let him fly.
If two people strip at the TSA checkpoint they'll think their perverts and won't let either of them fly.
If a hundred people strip at the TSA checkpoint they'll think it's a movement, and that'e exactly what it is.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure there are more constructive ways to protest than sitting in the front of the bus with black skin. As if the bus driver has any power... "Oh, this nigger bitch is riding in the Whites only section, that's really put a new perspective on things for me... I've got to take this straight to the top!"

All she's succeeded in doing is humiliating herself, her family, earning a criminal record, landing on the violent seditionist list, jeopardizing future employment options, and probably making a bunch of people around her nervous/scared (because, really, what sane or stable nigger does that?). This was a completely ineffective protest.

But, hey, she had a good view of the road, so... funny, right?

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[Tanktalus]

And, if he then fights the charges in court, he can use a Free Speech defense. This is relatively (but not entirely) clear that the nudity was a form of protest and thus speech protected by the First Amendment.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[dgatwood]

What part of "No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law shall be passed" do they not understand? That's not even pissing on the bill of rights. That's wiping their ass with the body of the Constitution itself.

Simply amazing.

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[starworks5]

Except for that its legal in portland to be naked, and oregon recognized nudity as a form of political speech, i should know seeing as how I organize the 10000 person world naked bike ride in portland. http://pdxwnbr.org/

Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list

[gambino21]

Why are we in America so terrified of the human body?

One word: Christian Right

How about these two words: prison industry. The private prison industry has a strong interest in making every law as strict and harsh as possible.

This man is a hero.

[Bradmont]

This man is a hero.

Re:This man is a hero.

[condition-label-red]

One person choosing not to fly is a small statement.

One person stripping naked in an airport makes a much bigger statement.

Re:This man is a hero.

[k6mfw]

If you want to be heroic... don't fly. No, I mean that truly... and if you have a travel job, well, get a different one. Sacrifice something meaningful.

You don't need to take a bus? tell that to Rosa Parks. Back then "the law" made sense even though it was not right. Maybe this guy did something stupid, perhaps his actions illustrate a large problem to many others. Gutsiest move this guy did, like walking into a hailstorm of bullets and hope his sacrifice will be for the greater good.

Re:This man is a hero.

[causality]

lying to a wife is, in fact, a dangerous thing to do

Marrying a bitch is a dangerous thing to do (dangerous to one's own sanity). For men, not noticing she's a bitch because you can't look beyond her body, getting her to want you not because of your character (that she is not mature enough to admire) but because you "got game" (put her on a pedestal), that's what puts them in danger.

But marrying a woman who is not a bitch? Then you can be honest with her and she can be honest with you. You don't need her approval for everything you do, nor does she need yours. Sort of like you may read a book I don't like or listen to music I find distasteful and you don't need me to sign off on it. For me this is normal. For some it's sadly "unrealistic".

I notice most people do not relate honestly. They have little white lies and other ways to tiptoe around each other because each person never fully accepted who the other is prior to marriage.

Re:This man is a hero.

[geekoid]

Marry a person you can be honest with. Whether or not they are a bitch is irrelevant. If you are honest, she will be a bitch on your side.

Gowdin time

[betterunixthanunix]

The TSA agents are acting as directed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_defense

Re:Lessons from my cousin

[preaction]

Telemarketers are just doing their job. Tell them up-front "Please remove me from your list." and let them get on with it. This is another instance of "shoot the messenger."

The people who get paid minimum wage to hand out flyers are also just doing their job. What happens when they go back to their boss and say "Some guy grabbed all my flyers and destroyed them." Think they're going to keep that job they desperately need?

As for the TSA: Right on. That is the absolute correct response. Make them uncomfortable giving pat-downs, and maybe they'll put the pressure on the higher-ups.

Re:Lessons from my cousin

[Hatta]

Telemarketers are just doing their job. Tell them up-front "Please remove me from your list." and let them get on with it

No. The longer a telemarketer spends on the phone with someone, the fewer people he can harass. The fewer people he harasses, the less profitable the business model is. The less profitable the business model is, the less likely I will have to deal with telemarketers in the future.

Don't be mad at me. Be mad at the people who run the economy for not providing honest work.

Re:boycott?

[Rob the Bold]

why not protest this way; boycott air travel

I'm boycotting air travel. Perhaps you've read about me online on seen me on the news.

Re:Lessons from my cousin

[geekoid]

There job is not to annoy you. Their job happens to annoy you.

What kind of self centered prick doesn't realize that different things annoy different people?

Well, at leas on your death bed you can thinking of all that time you told off a person barely eeking a living doing a crap job for less then min. wage.

Well done.

Re:How can a sane person be upset with the TSA?

[tekrat]

And what lame apologist excuse will you use when the TSA is groping people at bus terminals, train stations, cruise ship terminals, and even at random stops along the nation's highways?

"If you don't like the TSA, never leave your house! That's what the internet is for!" Is that what you'll say?