Disabled woman beaten bloody by TSA agents after becoming confused and afraid at security checkpoint

[sangfroid]

68. Interesting idea

Due to back to back strokes a few years ago, I am partially deaf and legally blind. I also have balance issues and stumble a lot.

So in 2012, I was at the LA Airport. As we went through security, they wouldn't allow me to use my cane, so I was having some difficulty. As I was stepping through the metal detector, I stumbled and accidentally touched the wall. Well, that was a huge no-no. Two large men with shaved skulls (for that SS look) pulled me out of the machine, rather forcibly patted me down without a single word. A female officer attempted to examine my cane (a Hoover cane for the blind, I overheard her say they might be some kind of nunchucks), and she promptly broke it. When it was decerned I was disabled and not an extra smart terrorist, I was told I could go.

I went to the Accesibilty Services office at the Airport and was told they were really very sorry about my experience and if I wanted a couple of bucks to pay for the cane, I would have to sign a form absolving the TSA and the airport authority of any responsibility. When I asked the names of "officers" involved for possible individual action, I was told that, since they aren't actually LEOs, no names or ID numbers needed to be provided. As I left, it was suggested I have a t-shirt or large button made proclaiming my disability so TSA could handle "my situation" differently.

And yes, I had a button made, and I wear it whenever I need to deal with the airport thugs. So far, I haven't had a repeat of what happened. But I really hate that fucking button.