TSA-Sexual Assault (read what the "mommy blogger" had to endure)

Our Little Chatterboxes Blog ^ | 11/16/10 | Erin

[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.

[lonevoice]

If the Bill of Rights doesn't protect women from having their privates legally groped by government "security" creeps, it's not worth the paper it's printed on.

That's the final analysis of everything that could be said about all of this. Well done.

[MsLady]

I think this government is interested in taking away as many rights as possible. Get us use to having more and more of our rights taken away and pretty soon we won’t have any at all. Actually right now we don’t our government can do whatever the heck it wants to. It’s obvious no matter what this government does, they can get away with it. They’ve shown it time and time again and it’s getting worse.

[RickB444]

Hey Chuzzlewit, are you an idiot or just practicing to be one?

I think you’re supposed to be posting on MoveOn.org but came here to spread your liberal stupidity.

[netmilsmom]

This is our one and only chance to see the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Suessland become Whoville. It’s my 50th birthday. I’ve told my girls and they said that if they have to, they will wear Depends and nursing pads!!!

[Theo]

Perfect. Thanks. I’m flying tomorrow and want to be prepared to resist any “sexual contact.”

[1_Rain_Drop]

"My daughters are 10 and 13. We are flying to Orlando in December. They will both wear sanitary pads and I’m seriously considering hijabs for all of us."

Surely there has to be a scripture we can stand on to not being groped. It is so wrong for you to even consider impersonating a cult just to get protect your daughters. This may backfire sometime in the future.

Maybe it's time for all of us to slow down, not try to get someplace ASAP. Maybe we should travel like they did in the fifties. Maybe it's time to stop and smell the roses, visit God's country by car.

[xone]

zot

[netmilsmom]

>>It is so wrong for you to even consider impersonating a cult just to get protect your daughters.<<

Seriously, I don’t think so.
I’m not denouncing my faith, but rather protecting my girls from the evils of government. If they asked us, we would say we are Christian, Of course!

[1_Rain_Drop]

I kinda would rather dress as a Buddhist than a muslime.

I don't consider it as denouncing ones faith but as a tool for survival. I guess if I could find a scripture for doing this, I'd be more at ease since then I would have something from the Word of God to justify the action. KWIM? Consider if you're "in costume" then claim to be a Christian when exposed, what kind of message would it send to the evil ones or even your children? You know how the evil ones love to bash Christians. Your children may not be able to quite understand what is going on for them to don a costume. Would you regret doing this when they are in the rebellious teen age years?

I was thinking about generations. The older one had a pretty decent one. The previous had a very loose easy going, the world is their oyster kind of lifestyle, bordering on spoiled brats. This new generation will be so restricted they won't be able to sneeze without asking for permission first. This happening just too fast.

I'm not criticizing or attacking your decision, I'm trying to figure out how to deal with this and still have a clean conscience. What is happening is such a shock and I don't even fly! Now I really do not intend to fly but will fight for the rights for those who do.

Whatever you decide to do, may God protect you and your family.

[netmilsmom]

Maybe we'll go for these...

http://www.tznius.com/cgi-bin/product.pl?productid=515&groupid=14 Pull it forward and voila! Let them decide what we are. I don't think The Lord would begrudge us wearing Jewish headscarf. Oh, and my girls are 10 and 13. They know what's going on with the TSA.

[1_Rain_Drop]

Those look fine. I’m pretty sure God would have no problem with them :-)