Naked Portlandian man protests TSA screening injustice through nakedness

A bearded gentleman in Portland, Oregon who was upset about being “harassed by airport security” took off all of his clothes while in the TSA screening lane Tuesday evening. He was arrested, taken to jail, and held on $4,000 bail.

According to Portland police, John E. Brennan took off his clothes while going through airport screening at Portland International Airport just after 5:30 p.m. and stood naked before other passengers, including children.

Two screening lanes were closed as a result. Some passengers covered their eyes as well as their children’s and retreated from the sight. But others laughed and began snapping photos.

(…) Said Brennan’s father, also John Brennan, when reached by KATU News Tuesday night: “This is quite a shock. He hasn’t been under any stress that I know of. He’s never really under any stress. He works for a computer company in California. He does something with the Internet, which is just kind of mystical to me. This is quite a surprise.”

Interviewed today by a Portland TV news program, Mr. Brennan (who has participated in Portland’s Naked Bike Rides before) says he felt it was “the right thing to do.” He is a frequent flyer who must travel often for his job (in San Jose, CA, I gather?), and he is tired of the TSA’s junk-touching ways.

Oh, laugh all you want. And, sure, it’s been done before. But this dude is my hero.

Photo: Brian Reilly, via KOMO News