Man strips naked in airport to protest TSA search

Originally published on Examiner.com on April 19, 2012.

John Brennan is no stranger to the airport, and travels regularly because of his occupation as a business consultant. Over the last few years he has grown increasingly weary of the Transportation Security Administration and as he characterizes it, ‘being hassled.’

This is why after going through security checkpoints at Portland International Airport on Tuesday, April 17th and setting off a detector for ‘nitrates’ it was reported locally by King5 that Mr. Brennan decided to take matters into his own hands and stripped naked as the day he was born for all to see. He said he did this to save time for all involved.

The TSA and local authorities did not find his actions amusing, and after repeatedly asking Mr. Brennan to put his clothes back on, wrapped him in a towel and arrested him for disorderly conduct and indecent exposure. Both charges are misdemeanors in the state of Washington and carry consequences of possible imprisonment and fines.

He was taken to Multnomah County Jail and was booked on the previously detailed charges. He was released the same day to his own personal recognizance.

Brennan says he has no regrets, and he hopes to start a nationwide trend. He elaborated, “I don’t think Americans can sit around and put up with this anymore. TSA needs to just do their job and not intimidate people.”