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Operation "Grab Ass": backlash against TSA airport security measures continues

Operation "Grab Ass" is the latest campaign against TSA's new body scanners and "Enhanced Pat Downs".

It might not have the most tasteful name, but Operation "Grab Ass" is go. After weeks of growing criticism against the Transportation Security Administration's new security measures, an organised backlash has begun.

Operation "Grab Ass" (or Fly With Dignity, as it's known in more polite company) is a newly formed campaign which aims to raise enough money to buy an advert in the New York Times, condemning TSA's new body scanners and "Enhanced Pat Downs".

The new body scanners produce a near-naked picture of the passenger. If a passenger refuses to let airport officials ogle their naked body, they have to submit to an "Enhanced Pat Down": a full, rigorous body search, which includes the touching of genitals. Passengers thus has a choice: have a picture taken of their naked body, or have their genitals felt by a stranger.

Stories of abuse by TSA officials have become increasingly prominent, as anger at the new measures has increased. A woman is suing TSA after an official allegedly exposed her breasts. Video footage recently emerged of a three year-old crying as she was thoroughly searched.

Anger has boiled over to include the absurdity of other airport regulations: such as a TSA official confiscating a heavily-armed soldier's nail clippers.

A National Opt-Out day is planned for 24 November, on the basis that:

You should never have to explain to your children, "Remember that no stranger can touch or see your private area, unless it's a government employee, then it's OK."

This has been the tipping point for many. People are prepared to stand in line for hours. They are prepared to take off their shoes, bin any liquids and take out their laptops for no discernable reason -- but they are not prepared to have their genitals fondled in order to get on a plane.

Operation "Grab Ass" (or Fly With Dignity, as it's known in more polite company) is the latest brain child of Reddit, the increasingly influential social news website. Last month, what started as a post on the website ended up in the Rally to Restore Sanity, attended by 250,000 people in Washington DC and raised $500,000 for charity.

Tags: Operation "Grab Ass"  TSA

13 comments

jeyifwi's picture

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motherfuckeraryan's picture

German-British fucked world.

Joejoebob's picture

TSA is already setting up in subway stations, and they're fixing to expand their influence to greyhound and train stations too. There are mobile x-ray trucks that travel the roads that can look into your car to see what you have, and you can be wire-tapped for no reason.

The worst part? The absolute worst part? I didn't speak up until now, any anyone with concerns about this I labeled a conspiracy theorist nutjob. This is all partially my fault and though I shoulder the blame with millions, I intend to try my hardest to remedy it.

meidd's picture

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Clara Kabalevsky's picture

Power to the people!

gogo23's picture

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mitchy's picture

Fuck that! Nobody's taking saucy pictures of me or fondling my bollocks, whatever the reason.
Bloody world's gone mad.

Redditor's picture

OK, a couple things here:

1) Jon Stewart's rally was in the planning stages well before Reddit got involved. He even admitted it himself. IN FACT, one of the founders of Reddit asked him the site was influential in getting the rally to be held in the first place.

2) Operation: Grab Ass has been in place for quite a while. It just took the mainstream press a few weeks to notice because you're too worried about Tea-Baggers and the latest scoop about British royalty.

Patriot1776's picture

Satan has arrived
Where are the religious leaders? Why are they so silent?
Have they already switched sides?
God has given you judgment, use yoru judgment, if this is wrong, do not go thru it, and do what you can peacefully to stop it.

Sciamachy's picture

Do we get to pick who does the nad-fondling, at least? ;-P

Hammad1's picture

One day they will force you to walk naked on the street due to security reasons, some terrorist gets caught carring bomb in his underwear or balls, and the police would be able to stop him at the last moment..

gogo622's picture

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