TSA apologizes to Indigenous woman after agent's offensive comments at MSP

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The federal security director of TSA in Minnesota told fellow employees in an email Tuesday that the agency will "learn from this," after an agent made offensive comments to a prominent Indigenous attorney and activist at MSP's Terminal 1 security line.

The attorney, Tara Houska, said Monday she felt "dehumanized" after an agent grabbed her braids during a security check, told her "giddy up" and then laughed off Houska's concern. "My hair is part of my spirit. I am a Native woman. I am angry, humiliated. Your 'fun' hurt," Houska tweeted to more than 30,000 followers.

In an email released by TSA's public affairs department to KARE 11, Federal Security Director Cliff Van Leuven acknowledged that a "mistake" was made. "Did it actually happen? Yes. Exactly as described? Yes," he told TSA employees, adding that he spoke with Houska on Tuesday. "I apologized for how she was treated during the screening of her braids - and we had a very pleasant conversation. She reiterated that she doesn't want the Officer to get in trouble, but she is hoping we'll take the chance to continue to educate our staff about the many Native American Tribes/Bands in our state and region to better understand their culture."

TSA on Monday committed to a thorough investigation, which remains ongoing. "TSA holds its employees to the highest standards of professional conduct and any type of improper behavior is taken seriously," the agency said in an updated statement Tuesday.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/tsa-apologizes-to-indigenous-woman-after-agents-offensive-comments-at-msp/ar-BBYXtDY?li=BBnbfcL

You don't do that to anyone I don't care what their ethnic background is. The TSA agent strikes me as very unprofessional and rather childish.

[riversedge]

1. This agent should be FIRED!!................

.....The attorney, Tara Houska, said Monday she felt "dehumanized" after an agent grabbed her braids during a security check, told her "giddy up" and then laughed off Houska's concern.

[dewsgirl]

2. Indeed... the person needs to be fired.

[stopdiggin]

3. yes. by all means. let's impose OUR standards and interpretation

over the wishes and judgment of the people actually involved ...

snip - "She reiterated that she doesn't want the Officer to get in trouble, but she is hoping we'll take the chance to continue to educate our staff about the many Native American Tribes/Bands in our state and region to better understand their culture."

because, you know .. internet

[Submariner]

4. If I was an Indigenous man or woman I wouldn't trust a U.S. Govt agency for anything

after the screwing we have given them over the centuries. To hell with the TSA and their harassment at the George W. Bush Memorial Fucking Waiting Line at airports.

So of course she said she doesn't want the Officer to get in trouble. Because she knows if he did get in trouble at her request, TSA would further target her and other Indigenous people and make their traveling experience that much more miserable.

[stopdiggin]

6. if that were the case

wouldn't be more likely that she wouldn't have made the complaint in the first place? if you're afraid, you don't put your name out there.

(people have a right to be indignant, perhaps even furious, by these actions .. what I don't think they have is a right to impose their judgment, in the place of the person actually impacted. that's just plain demeaning. "we'll decide for you, how this should be handled." doesn't sit very well, does it?)

[LanternWaste]

5. I fail to see how anyone's opinion on a message board would be realized.

And implicit in that realization of "our standards" would be actual consequence of those opinions you give such weight to... of which there is none.

I think you're simply conflating the definitions of "impose" and "opinion." They are two wholly separate words with wholly different meanings.

Because, you know... pretending things not in existence.

[stopdiggin]

8. they're calling for a firing ...

the actual protagonist asks that the agent not be punished ...

(who is imposing a "we know best" standard here? this would be easily recognized as demeaning and offensive in another context. right?)