New airport screening devices have some up in arms
Leslie Philip
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) changed their standard operating procedure for airport security nationwide. The Screening Partnership Program (SPP) was designed under contract by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA) for testing in five chosen airports in Nov. 2002.Protestors gathered at Sky Harbor International Airport on Nov. 23 to defend their rights to freedom of speech and chanted “Don’t touch my junk” repeatedly to passersby entering and exiting the terminal.
“Most of the protest was organized over Facebook,” said Halina Reed, one of the SkyHarbor protestors. “Personally, I’m here because I feel, as a sexual assault survivor, I don’t want people getting in a space that I’m already that uncomfortable as it is.”
Reed also stated that Republican congressman Ron Paul, who ran for presidency against John McCain in 2008, was in Arizona a week ago giving speeches protesting the TSA policies.
“Pilots don’t get touched, the flight attendants . they’re not allowed to touch their private areas but they’re allowed to touch their breasts, they’re allowed to touch their behind. They’re allowed to touch [the average person] wherever they want . It’s just not okay,” Reed said.
Bystander Brian Berkland felt that enough is enough.
“People have really had it . with all of the new security procedures that they’re doing. It’s taking away people’s rights,” Berkland said.
Though some were content to express themselves in a traditional fashion, others got more creative by stripping down to spandex.
“I am naked because I don’t think it’s fair to the American public to subject us to aggressive groping of . machines that haven’t been tested or could have long term results,” protestor Nate Palmer said, “I’m naked because I think it’s a funny way of drawing people’s attention to the issue. Plus it feels good to be naked at the airport.”
Fellow libertarian and anarchist Chris Broughton felt that the public needs to be aware of the security procedures.
“If they just brush it off . then we’re going to start seeing these scanners, we’re going to see this type of checking going on everywhere.” Broughton said.
Harold Norton felt the TSA has gone too far in their treatment of the American public.
“We’re American citizens. We’re not terrorists,” Norton said. “Especially the five-year-olds, the older women and the people in wheelchairs (that) have been just accosted . I say at least change your gloves. They wear those gloves for hours straight groping different people right on down the line and they never change their gloves. It’s gross. It’s a way to spread disease.
