Posted on 12/02/2011 10:34:03 PM PST by GreaterSwiss
says she plans to sue the TSA after a humiliating strip search on Tuesday by agents at JFK Airport.
Lenore Zimmerman, who lives in Long Beach, says she was on her way to a 1 p.m. flight to Fort Lauderdale when security whisked her to a private room and took off her clothes.
“I walk with a walker — I really look like a terrorist,” she said sarcastically. “I’m tiny. I weigh 110 pounds, 107 without clothes, and I was strip-searched.”
TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said a review of closed circuit TV footage from the airport shows “proper procedures were followed.”
But Zimmerman, whose hunched back puts her at 4-foot-11, said her ordeal began after her son, Bruce, drove her to the JetBlue terminal for the Florida flight. She lives in warm Coconut Creek during the winter.
She checked her bags, waited for a wheelchair and parted ways with her doting son — her only immediate relative.
When Zimmerman reached a security checkpoint, she asked if she could forgo the advanced image technology screening equipment, fearing it might interfere with her defibrillator.
She said she normally gets patted down. But this time, she says that two female agents escorted her to a private room and began to remove her clothes.
“I was outraged,” said Zimmerman, a retired receptionist.
As she tried to lift a lightweight walker off her lap, she says, the metal bars banged against her leg and blood trickled from a gash.
“My sock was soaked with blood,” she said. “I was bleeding like a pig.”
She says the TSA agents showed no sympathy, instead pulling down her pants and asking her to raise her arms.
“Why are you doing this?” she said she asked the agents, who did not respond.
The TSA claims the footage does not show any sign of the injury.
“Our screening procedures are conducted in a manner designed to treat all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy,” Farbstein said.
Zimmerman says a medic arrived to treat her injury. The process took so long that she missed her 1 p.m. flight and had to catch a later one.
Her son said he was shocked when his mom called around 9 p.m. that night and described what happened.
“She was put through a hell of a day,” he said.
Zimmerman, who takes blood thinners, later had a tetanus shot for fear of infection from the walker wound.
Bruce Zimmerman, 53, said he can’t understand why the agents targeted his mom.
“She looks like a sweet, little old lady,” he said. “She’s not a disruptive person or uncooperative.”
nhirshon@nydailyn
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lenore-zimmerman-85-hurt-strip-search-tsa-agents-jfk-airport-article-1.986198#ixzz1fRyYOOwe
“proper procedures were followed.
Oh, yeah? That’s what they always say, no matter how egregious the abuse.
BS, lady; you're MacGyver's maternal grandmother, and taught him everything her knows.
You were planning on turning that walker into an arsenal, taking over the plane, and flying to Atlantic City.
Once there, the rest of the walker, plus your bra straps, would be used to clean out a couple of casinos.
We're on to you and your ilk!
A background check would have quickly eliminated her from suspician.
The rest of the world TALKS to the passengers, searches their things, swabs for explosives, has sniffer dogs, calls their relatives and only strip searches someone they suspect or who has a story that doesn’t ring true.
Our guys are ACTING like they are thorough, when in fact, they are dangerously lax.
An 85 year old Jewish woman....Hmmmmm.......Nope, can’t say I recall the last time an 85 year old Jewish woman said Oy veh and tried to hijack a plane or try to blow one up. Maybe they should check out those Amish.
“proper procedures were followed.”
Just like they were by the Nazi gas chamber staffers.
“Flying is just not worth it anymore.”
That is the absolute truth! People should boycott the airlines until the TSA is gone or they go out of business! I used to fly 300,000 miles a year. Now that I am retired, I drive or I don’t go and not because I don’t like flying ( I am a licensed pilot). Screw the airlines, they haven’t a clue about how to treat their customers apart from the outrage that they have allowed into their business in the TSA. American Airlines has filed for bankruptcy, and I say good!
There has to be probable cause to search this woman. There is none, unless she was from a muslim country or wearing a burka or acting weird. These searches not based on nationality, religion, erratic behavior, or ethnicity are illogical and unconstitutional.
Reason and logic is supposed to be the bedrock of our legal system. There is no reason or logic to this kind of search and it violates our fundamental right to travel. It is inhumane.
BS... the walker can be screened and the passenger can be checked pretty quickly. I can get a good idea of someone through a simple internet search. Can get more info if I want to pay... under a hundred bucks. TSA is full of crap.
Yeah.. that’s the ticket... LOL!
You’re right. They have to fill their quota and she was an easy target.
A dog can find weapons and explosives. BEFORE THE PERSON IS EVEN IN THE TERMINAL. WHY NOT? Ask incompetano.
That’s right. Any border agent who actually tries to stop illegals from getting in, is jailed and granny has to be stripped.
Makes no sense. The open border is a big problem, not granny.
Try Vienna where they constantly try to steal your money, from the barmaids, taxis, hotel clerks, even newspaper stands. They don’t believe in giving change, and when you ask for it, they simply walk away and play deaf. .yet most will buy a ticket for the subways and buses which is on an honor system. Oh yes and if you jaywalk and don’t use the crosswalk in the street, people scream and yell at you like you just robbed them. One man tried to hit me with his umbrella. They are fanatical about order.
She had it coming... All those years? she must have deserved it. ;) / union thug
I have to agree.
I know there are a lot of security measures that need to be taken. I understand.
But between dealing with getting to the airport so early, dealing with rude airline personel, crowded seating and insane prices...I just don’t want to deal with it.
Once upon a time, flying was a special and pleasant experience. What may well happen, in the end, is that only the wealthy will be able to fly (like it once was). They will opt for private aircraft.
If I can’t drive to the destination..I don’t go. Goodbye Bali...I never got to knew ya.
“Our screening procedures are conducted in a manner designed to treat all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy,” Farbstein said.
This is commonly refferred to as being a lying sack of shit.....
Théâtre de Sécurité Absurde
While the agents strip searched an 80 year old female with a walker 2 muslim terrorists were had their asses kissed and handed flowers and a fresh drink and waved on through
It’s not the airlines it’s the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT!!! TSA is the GOVERNMENT... airlines have not say over this.
Exactly!!!!
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