Man Protests TSA With Nudity

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Posted by Unknown on Wednesday April 18, 2012 @05:17AM from the inspired-by-invisible-children dept.

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.'"

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hope it was worth the megan's law list by alen · 2012-04-18 05:18 · Score: 5, Insightful

now every time he applies for a job he will come up on the sex offender search
1. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by xclr8r · 2012-04-18 05:23 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yeah should have gone this route... http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/12/going-commando-on-the-tsa-redux-a-kilt-wearer-speaks.ars
  
  --
  Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
2. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by wickedskaman · 2012-04-18 05:34 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  It does here in California. Urinating in public can put you there. Although it gives levels of offense, I don't think people who pay attention to those lists care much as it usually says something vague like "Indecent exposure" or "Public exposure", not "Was drunk, pissed in alley" or "TSA trollin'"
  
  --
  Sand's overrated... it's just tiny little rocks.
3. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by 19thNervousBreakdown · 2012-04-18 05:45 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
  
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  <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
4. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Sperbels · 2012-04-18 05:54 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  because, really, what sane or stable person does that?
  One making a political statement.
5. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 05:55 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  The level of exposure doesn't matter. Your gender does.
  TFA:
  PORTLAND, Ore. -- A man who 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.
  According to Portland police, John E. Brennan took off his clothes while going through airport screening at Portland International Airport just after 5:30 p.m. and stood naked before other passengers, including children.
  TSA screeners asked Brennan to put his clothes back on, but he refused. He was arrested without incident and taken to jail, held on $4,000 bail. He faces charges of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
  Contrast to this story:
  http://kdvr.com/2012/04/10/woman-strips-naked-at-dia/
  DENVER – A female passenger at Denver International Airport caused a stir Tuesday morning when she stripped naked inside Concourse B, airport officials said.
  At some point after airport workers told her to extinguish the cigarette, the woman took off her clothing. It wasn’t immediately clear why. However, Denver Police say it was unrelated to the smoking issue.
  One witness, who did not want his name used, says other passengers on the concourse didn’t find the striptease amusing.
  The whole incident played-out over a span of about 20 minutes before authorities eventually transported the woman to a hospital
  Denver Police say the woman will not be arrested and she will not face any charges.
  Note: if you watch the video, it's also a public location in clear sight of many passing civilians.
6. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by sjames · 2012-04-18 06:01 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
7. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by dargaud · 2012-04-18 06:01 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
  
  --
  Non-Linux Penguins ?
8. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by 19thNervousBreakdown · 2012-04-18 06:05 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
  
  --
  <xml><I><am><so><damn>Web 2.0</damn></so></am></I></xml>
9. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 06:39 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  I'd be more likely to hire him. There's a good chance sex offender meant he urinated in public or some other inane thing. I need employees who are willing to take some risks.
10. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by kimvette · 2012-04-18 06:44 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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?
  
  --
  The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
11. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 06:45 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  ..and the interviewer if he googles will find that article and see why. the guy is a legend now. bet you 20 bucks he reads slashdot.
  If I was considering an applicant and the background check came up with a sex offender hit I wouldn't waste another second on him. In this case the guy wold be getting a raw deal but there's far too many engineers out there without a major red flag to make further research worth my time.
  I was at a baseball game and someone thought I was a rapist being sought by the local cops, called them and said they saw me "hanging around the kids" and "acting suspicious". Well, the kids I was "hanging around" happened to be MY kids, I wasn't the rapist they were looking for, and the police were very polite and apologized for bothering me.
  However, my background check now shows my ID as having been part of an investigation into a child sex crime, because technically it was- the investigation revealed that there was not actually a crime. But you won't see this on the background check, what you'll see is just the flag showing the investigation.
  So I'd like to know where you hire, because I'd love to make some quick cash suing your idiot ass after you reject my application on false grounds.
  Moron.
12. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 06:47 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
13. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 06:51 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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?
14. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by starworks5 · 2012-04-18 07:03 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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/
15. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by Tom · 2012-04-18 07:34 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Why are we in America so terrified of the human body?
  One word: Christian Right
  body hostility is an old christian tradition. Not really sure where it came from, probably as a counterpoint to the much more relaxed romans and then it just stuck.
  
  --
  Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
16. Re:hope it was worth the megan's law list by pauljlucas · 2012-04-18 08:11 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  It does here in California.
  
  No it doesn't. There is no state law regarding nudity. That said, counties or cities can enact their own local laws about it.
  For example, the famous "naked guy" of Berkeley wandered around town for quite a while until the city council finally got fed up and enacted such a law.
  San Francisco is at least one city that has no local law about nudity. You can be nude anywhere in public in San Francisco (except in a park due to a even more local SF Parks Dept. regulation, oddly). There's the famous Bay to Breakers race where entire groups of people do the race nude, not to mention there's public nudity for the Pride and Folsom events. There are even guys who regularly stroll the Castro and the Wharf areas nude.
  Actually, the city did recently enact a local law about nudity in that if you sit down while nude, you need to sit on something like a towel. You couldn't very well have such a law if there were a blanket prohibition on nudity.
  
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  If you reply, do so only to what I explicitly wrote. If I didn't write it, don't assume or infer it.
This man is a hero. by Bradmont · 2012-04-18 05:21 · Score: 5, Insightful

This man is a hero.
1. Re:This man is a hero. by condition-label-red · 2012-04-18 05:41 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  One person choosing not to fly is a small statement.
  One person stripping naked in an airport makes a much bigger statement.
  
  --
  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit.
2. Re:This man is a hero. by nedlohs · 2012-04-18 05:45 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Getting added to the sexual offenders list and potentially spending time in jail or even prison and paying a not insignificant fine seems like a greater sacrifice than lying to a wife.
3. Re:This man is a hero. by k6mfw · 2012-04-18 06:00 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
  
  --
  mfwright@batnet.com
4. Re:This man is a hero. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 06:01 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Or a small statement depending on the guy
5. Re:This man is a hero. by geekoid · 2012-04-18 06:30 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  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.
  
  --
  The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
New signs: by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 05:23 · Score: 5, Funny

"Do not strip until told to strip."
Airport Security Nudity Day by nxcho · 2012-04-18 05:25 · Score: 5, Interesting

Let us declare April 17 as Airport Security Nudity Day.

--
When asked why, the answer is almost always: "It's 2014".
Gowdin time by betterunixthanunix · 2012-04-18 05:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

The TSA agents are acting as directed.

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

--
Palm trees and 8
Re:Lessons from my cousin by Mordok-DestroyerOfWo · 2012-04-18 05:58 · Score: 5, Interesting

Wrong... If the only job you can get involves you screaming at the top of your lungs through my neighborhood that you're a pretty princess, that doesn't change the fact that you are an annoyance and need to stop. The feeble-minded twits that joined with the TSA need to know by any means necessary that they are perceived as bullies and their organization is an affront to everything that America ostensibly stands for.

--
"Never let your sense of morals prevent you from doing what is right" - Salvor Hardin
Re:boycott? by Rob+the+Bold · 2012-04-18 06:31 · Score: 5, Insightful

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.

--
I am not a crackpot.
Re:Lessons from my cousin by geekoid · 2012-04-18 06:42 · Score: 5, Insightful

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.

--
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
Re:How can a sane person be upset with the TSA? by tekrat · 2012-04-18 07:20 · Score: 5, Insightful

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?

--
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.