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. Im 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 cant understand why the agents targeted his mom.
She looks like a sweet, little old lady, he said. Shes 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
Such irony.
I expect terrorist to be more sophisticated than to hide explosives in the bosom of an old lady. I don’t know much about the explosive energy of the latest explosives. I just wonder if something the size of breast implants would generate the explosive energy to take out a jumbo jet. This would take to idea of hiding explosives in a woman’s bosom to a new level. IMHO.
“A background check would have quickly eliminated her from suspician.”
Really? What kind of background check would reveal a recent conversion to Islam ?
“The rest of the world TALKS to the passengers...calls their relatives....”
And which countries would that be ?
I volunteer at the local airport two days a month. Some time ago, I watched the TSA let 4 towelheads (2 males, 2 females, all in their early 30s) pass through without a second glance. They were too busy getting an octogenarian out of his wheelchair.
Boy, are we gonna get it ...
Nazi Germany. Under the Obama administration. Also, wanna guess the race of the victim vs. the 2 perps? ‘Ve vere chust followink zee orders’
And I grew up in Michigan, so my curiosity about Canadians is satisfied too. ;^)
what? No cavity search for the old lady? The TSA is really getting lax in carrying out their duties to protect all of us
Wow.. sure the Jewish 80 year old lady with a walker suddenly decided to convert to ALLAH and blow up a plane.. what are you smoking?
Right. Or maybe a precocious toddler, trained to shout “Alahu Akhbar! right before he pushes a button on his explosive-packed stroller.
Exactly.
They go out of their way to “prove’ their objectivity by ignoring real targets and pinpointing innocent fliers.
BS! You're a bunch of NAZI morons.
17-year-old missed flight to Jacksonville after agents inspected gun replica(design on purse)
Denial, that’s the feds’ way. Next comes cover-up.
The TSA - so-called - is a bad joke, and its personnel are absolutely intent on setting new records for incompetence and government surliness.
Hey lady ... the procedures you call proper are obscene and the TSA should cease all searches with the exception of Middle Eastern profileing.
Nothing like the “land of the free and the home of the brave”...
Free to get molested and brave to accept it... Or something like that...
"Our screening procedures are conducted in a manner designed to treat all passengers with dignity, respect and courtesy,"Bullshit. The procedures might have that intention but 1) the procedures aren't always followed, and 2) many of the workers are ignorant of one or more aspect of procedure.
That said, suing the government is a waste of time, money, and ego. Just ratchet up and spread contempt and disrespect.
You know its bad when they advertise on pizza boxes. Who does one expect to get hired with that method? Harvard MBA's?
If the truth be told, the Federal Government (TSA) have 100 times more respect for Muslim terrorist then they do for johnny American. It’s the truth! They have no respect for American citizens. The Muslims have effectively instilled the fear of God into all governmental functionaries, the American people have not done that yet, and no doubt never will, so johnny American will continue to be shat upon from great heights
Wrong. The airlines had no say for the first year TSA was in existence. The fact is after that year they have the right to fire TSA and hire their own security. The first airline to do so will take most of the customers away for all the other airlines, IMO.
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