Posted on 11/18/2010 8:45:47 AM PST by skyman
TSA - Sexual Assault
I have an incident to share that occurred late Friday afternoon, November 12, 2010, around 5:15 in the Dayton International Airport.
I realize the publishing this publically on the internet puts me into a delicate situation, given that I am a high profile blogger and author. This is a difficult incident to share, but it needs to be said...Because I will not be a silent victim. I will share the facts of the incident in as a matter of fact manner as I can.
I checked into my flight and had a boarding pass printed that included “plus infant.” My baby and I were flying from Dayton, OH, to San Antonio, TX, so I could run in the San Antonio Half Marathon. I was taking my baby along because he is still breastfeeding for part of the day.
I entered the security line, removed the special formula that I had with me for the baby, as well as my quart size baggie with my other liquids. I went through the x-ray machine and metal detector, carrying the baby, with no incident.
Because I was traveling with baby formula, I knew to expect that they would test it with the paper circles for explosives. The TSA agent took all of my belongings over to the table in the center of the explosive screening tables. She asked me, “Are you aware of the NEW policies for carrying liquids through security that were instated 4 years ago?” (capitalized to show the emphasis that she placed on that word.)
I replied, “Yes, I fly with him every several weeks.”
She scanned the formula, then turned to me and said, “Remove your shoes and stand on that black mat for a patdown.”
I said, “OK, what do I do with the baby?”
“You cannot be holding him.” (I am traveling alone.)
So I placed him into his stroller. She instructed me, “Spread your feet apart and hold your arms out to the side.” I obliged.
She patted my left arm, my right arm, my upper back and my lower back. She then said, “I need to reach in and feel along the inside of your waistband.”
She felt along my waistline, moved behind me, then proceeded to feel both of my buttocks. She reached from behind in the middle of my buttocks towards my vagina area.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my buttocks, or reach forward to my vagina area.
She then moved in front of my and touched the top and underneath portions of both of my breasts.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my breasts.
She then felt around my waist. She then moved to the bottoms of my legs.
She then felt my inner thighs and my vagina area, touching both of my labia.
She did not tell me that she was going to touch my vagina area or my labia.
She then told me that I could put my shoes on and I asked if I could pick up the baby, she replied Yes.
She then moved back to my belongings to finish scanning them with the paper discs for explosives. When she finished she said I was free to go.
I stood there holding my baby in shock. I did not move for almost a minute.
I stood there, an American citizen, a mom traveling with a baby with special needs formula, sexually assaulted by a government official. I began shaking and felt completely violated, abused and assaulted by the TSA agent. I shook for several hours, and woke up the next day shaking.
Here is why I was sexually assaulted. She never told me the new body search policy. She never told me that she was going to touch my private parts. She never told me when or where she was going to touch me. She did not inform me that a private screening was available. She did not inform me of my rights that were a part of these new enhanced patdown procedures.
When I booked my ticket, I was given no information that the TSA had changed their wand and unintrusive patdown procedures to “enhanced” patdown procedures that involved the touching of all parts of your body, including breasts and vagina on women and testicles and penis on men. I was not informed by any signs on the front side of security about the new procedures. I had not seen any media coverage about the issue, so I had no idea that this was a new government sanctioned policy.
Another important piece in this story, the Dayton airport does not have the new body scanners. I was not given any other search options. It was enhanced patdown, or nothing. (And I would have opted for the body scanner, if I were going to be subject to a sexual assault.)
I asked to speak to a supervisor immediately. I had a very unpleasant conversation with him that lasted 20 minutes. I moved to the back of the security area, made a few phone calls, including to my lawyer. He did some quick research, and learned that I had indeed been sexually assaulted because she did not follow the SOP (standard operating procedure) for the new search.
During our first conversation, the TSA acting manager of the shift told me that the TSA agent who sexually assaulted me was supposed to inform me about the new search procedure and tell me when and where she was going to touch me. He also apologized on behalf of himself and on behalf of the agent who sexually assaulted me. I was not allowed to speak to the agent who sexually assaulted me, nor did the acting manager provide me with her name. (I did not have the presence of mind to look at her nameplate, as I was in shock.)
I also spoke with the Dayton police, the Dayton airport police, and left a message for the TSA manager for the Dayton airport. I intend to request the TSA to arrange for counseling services to be provided to me, so I can deal with the aftermath of the sexual assault that took place, caused by the specific touching actions and failure to inform me of the policies by the TSA agent.
I am speaking out against the TSA and share my sexual assault case to ensure that this does not happen to anyone else, anywhere.
I will not be a silent victim of sexual assault by a TSA agent. Total Sexual Assault.
I am calling for immediate change to this new enhanced body patdown search.
I am calling for the TSA agent who sexually assaulted me to be fired.
I am calling for you, a fellow American, to stand up against these new enhanced full body patdown search procedures of the TSA.
Please note: I do plan on flying back to Ohio on Monday, because it will take me too long to drive home from Texas. I do not however intend to fly again until this search policy of sexual molestation is revoked by the TSA.
I will leave you with this thought: “It is acceptable and encouraged that a TSA government official can do something to an American citizen that US military personnel cannot do to a member of the Taliban.”
*UPDATE: Thank you all for the links and information about where and with whom I can share this. I am continuing to take action. Please feel free to leave other helpful information you find. I will be turning on comment moderation for the remainder of the day.
**UPDATE #2: I am in no way trying to belittle the experiences of sexual assault experienced by others. I hurt and ache for others who have been sexually assaulted.
**UPDATE #3: If you are interested in me sharing my story on your radio or news program, please email tsasexualassault (at) gmail.
Flamed uh? Well keep in mind “one ah-shite, wipes out a thousand attaboys”.
Good luck.
You don't get on until we get off!
What’s that got to do with anything? Her voting preference isn’t yours and she suddenly doesn’t have constitutional rights.
>>oh the absolute horror !!!
they touched her privy parts?<<
You know, I sort of agree with you regarding those sentences. Of course, I’m also 56 (and have three adult daughters) and would actually be willing to wear a Kilt commando style and when the guy goes to frisk me there I would lift it right there in front of everyone and tell him to take a look (if it wouldn’t get me arrested). However, for me it is a matter of principle and the fact that violating those principles really does have tangible consequences.
This is very much a case of what is being discussed in “the dinner roll”: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2474214/posts
We’re finally stopping “him”. Hope we are not too late.
You have two daughters. You are a heartless father if you’d be fine with a stranger caressing their breasts and vaginas. Sick.
What if TSA tried these tactics at a place where they legally be intrusive to stop the flow of contraband ...
Like a federal prison?
As soon as they prove that they can stop contraband flowing into federal prisons, and the “assist” state and local prisons in scanning techniques, then they could propose to open it up to citizens who value quick travel.
Nuts.
I've flown in out of Ben Gurion on several occasions. The lines are long and move slowly. If you tried to do that at a large metro aiport, you would need to arrive perhaps 6 to 8 hours before the flight. (Just my opinion on the time)
I’m sorry. When did the Democrats pass the Sexual Predator Full Employment Act without our knowledge? Was it part of ObamaCare? Is this what Nancy was telling us we had to pass before we read it?
The mommy blogger didn’t say they touched her private parts glove to skin.
It was through her clothes.
Is that fine with you? For some thug to handle your privates through your clothes??
It isn’t fine with normal human beings!
IMO there are only 2 sides to this issue:
Those who think it is OK for a government stranger to touch a child's private parts and those who don't
I fall in the 'It's not OK' category.
Conservatives believe in the rule of law.
The 4th Amendment is a law. The TSA needs to abide by it.
In your initial post you promoted the breaking of the law by the TSA.
You are not a conservative.
4th Amendment puzzeledwit. This describes one of our real Rights. Not one of the made up rights, but one of the Rights guaranteed by our Constitution.
Where is the probable cause for this search? Did she appear to be carrying a bomb, or a baby?
Then they have just told the terrorist muzzies to use children as their weapons delivery system. We MUST stop this nonsense now.
Wonder if chuckle nuts will get it?
>>The 4th Amendment is a law. The TSA needs to abide by it.<<
Yep. The only way they should be able to get around it is when we are under martial law. I believe that is not currently the case. We need someone to get blacklisted over this and the ACLU to take the case right up to the SCOTUS.
It would also serve as a “constitutional pop quiz” for the members of the SCOTUS
If you want to join the uproar against the new TSA checks check out the I Won’t fly facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/wontfly
TSA has never stopped one terrorist and they won't until profiling becomes the norm. Sooner or later there will be another airborne attack and when it comes TSA will say they aren't tough enough and want to up the stakes once again.
What is occurring now in airports is tyranny and a violation of the 4th amendment and is completely unnecessary.
Hm. I looked up 18 U.S. Code Section 2244 and didn’t find that definition. Do you have a reference?
This whole thing is a pretense for nationalizing the airlines while forcing us all onto Willie Green's tax-funded inconvenient choo-choos.
They're necessary as a forerunner to trains running to wherever Obama plans to build the new Dachau which will process their "undesirables", such as the people who protest being groped by government agents.
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