Lenore Zimmerman was planning on traveling from JFK airport to Fort Lauderdale. The 85-year-old woman is only 100 ponds and walks with a walker. After Zimmerman checked her bags she made her way t the security line. She asked permission to be exempt from the image screening technology because she has a defibrillator. She expected to be pat down like she normally is. Instead she was the subject of a strip search. Two female TSA agents took her into a private room where she was forced to remove her clothing. In the process, her walker banged against her leg and blood began to run from a gash. Zimmerman claims that the TSA agents had no sympathy and continue to remove her clothing. Zimmerman is planning on suing the TSA for her whole ordeal.
Now it could be argued that Zimmerman’s right to privacy was abused here. All people have the right to their bodies but to what extent? Zimmerman is not the only person that has had a strip search. It could be argued that she was targeted because she is a women but that is a far reach and is more than likely not the reason. All citizens are subject to strip searches and they should not be skipped just because they do not look like a “terrorist.” Zimmerman sarcastically said, “I walk with a walker — I really look like a terrorist.” The TSA cannot just search people who they deem as looking as a terrorist. I believe that they may have decided to do the strip search because she opted out of the image screening.
Do you believe that any of Zimmerman’s rights were infringed upon? Should she not have been strip searched because she is an 85-year-old woman?
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/lenore-zimmerman-85-hurt-strip-search-tsa-agents-jfk-airport-article-1.986198
She still should have been searched. I understand the need to maintain the same regulations across the board. However, it is possible that the workers could have handled her in a more gentle manner. Clearly if it is true that she began to bleed and was not helped, that is unacceptable and the workers should be investigated. I realize that older people in the United States don't seem to understand the severity of the security measures in the United States. They never had those kind of laws or security measures when they were younger. My grandma always complains but she needs to understand there can't be any exceptions just because she is older. So while it is important to treat people well, they should not be exempt from a search no matter there age or disability.
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