Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Man Protests TSA Screening By Stripping Naked, Gets Arrested
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 18, 2012
Modified Apr 18, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 18, 2012
Modified Apr 18, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Less than a week after a woman stripped naked inside Denver International Airport (and months of stories of the TSA strip-searching grannies), a man has followed, ahem, suit, by strutting through screening at Portland International Airport naked as a jaybird. John E. Brennan, 49, "disrobed completely naked" while going through the screening area and was arrested on charges of indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
Brennan allegedly refused repeated orders to put his clothes on, and later told authorities he is a frequent flier who "disrobed as a form of protest against TSA screeners who he felt were harassing him." According to the Portland law enforcement report, "Mr. Brennan's actions caused two screening lanes to be closed and while some passengers covered their eyes and their children's eyes and moved away from the screening area, others stepped out of the screening lanes to look, laugh and take photos." Hear that, Senator Schumer?
So is naked TSA protesting now a trend? It's interesting to note that the naked woman who went through TSA screening in Denver was not arrested, but was taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation. Brennan, on the other hand, faces criminal charges. Does this mean authorities trying to send a message that this form of full-frontal protest is unacceptable? Unclear, but if it means that fewer naked Zach Galifianakis stand-ins make us miss our flights, we're all for it.
Tagged
john brennan
naked dude
portland
strip protest
transportation security administration
tsa
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .