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Woman says she is victim of racism after TSA made her strip to show breasts
‘Is it because I’m a Black woman?’
A woman says she was “degraded and humiliated” by a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent when she was made to take her sports bra off at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.
Aundrea DeMille, 37, was going through the security checkpoint in February as she he aded home to Utah from a spiritual retreat.
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She was approached by a TSA agent who allegedly ordered DeMille to remove her bra while passing through the full body scanner.
“I was in yoga pants and a jogger zip-up jacket and nothing but a sports bra underneath,” DeMille said.
“I get ready to go through the scanner where we stand to put our hands up, and there is a middle-aged white gentleman on the other end and he says are you wearing something underneath that? And, I said ‘what?’ And he goes ‘are you wearing something underneath that?’ So, I zip halfway so he could see I’m in nothing but a sports bra, and he says you have to take that off.
“I’m standing there in nothing, but tights like half-naked. I put my hands up and follow suit, and I look around and no one else is stripping down. At this point, I’m shaking I can’t even look him in the eye.”
DeMille told ABC4: ‘I can’t figure out is it because I’m black? Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I’m a black woman?’
She is now reportedly exploring taking legal action.
TSA released the following statement on Tuesday regarding the alleged incident: “The Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) goal is to provide the highest level of security in the most respectful and efficient way possible.
“TSA’s procedures do not require travelers to remove clothing during the security screening process. TSA regrets the miscommunication that led to this traveler’s discomfort.”
