Rebel of the Week: Smeg Mclain
November 17th, 2010Not only did this woman take a stand against the state, she is a real Silver Circle Rebel. You might remember her from our event. She sports the Rebel silver round tattoo on her arm and firmly believes in alternative currency and functioning without the federal government. Yet, today we have another reason to highlight this educated activist.
In recent media coverage of TSA security, you will find her as a spokesperson against the intrusive technology and protocol. For these reasons today we are happy to name the Rebel of the Week, Keene activist, Smeg Mclain.
In recent travels Mclain was leaving the Fort Lauderdale airport heading back to Manchester, NH from a visit with our Liberty on Tour friends. When going through the security check-point Mclain decided to opt-out of the full body scanners, which uses low grade radiation to take nude photos of passengers to ensure there are no weapons or other paraphernalia that can be used for “terrorist” activities. Refer to this diagram from the Washington Post to see how the scanners work.
Mclain gracefully approached the experience and articulated the fact that, “I either had to get nude photos of me or be touched in a way I didn’t want to be touched in order to get home”. By refusing the full body scanner her second option was a full body pat down, which according to TSA involves a full groin, and for women breast, pat down. Another unhappy passenger, John Tyner recorded the conversation between himself and the TSA agents exposing the pat-down procedure. Once Mclain refused to be patted down by TSA agents she was asked to leave the airport and luckily found another airport to fly out of that did not use the full-body scanners, returning her home.
This wave of media concerning full-body scanners began when TSA announced a new fluxuation with security measures (although many articles/blogs have published all summer about the new additions to airports around the country) and was shortly followed by disgruntled passengers and citizens who refused to take part in the “humiliating” process, like our Rebel Smeg. The shocking fact is that according to a recent CBS poll 4 out of 5 people support the full-body scanners.
Mclain and Tyner’s outspokenness has not gone unheard. Their actions have triggered activism across the country, and nowthere are people organizing an “opt-out” event for the upcoming holiday season.
November 24, is the day to “opt-out” and here are some details if you are traveling and want to participate or do your part to educate your community on TSA’s attempt to protect us from “terrorism”.
Rebels like Mclain are hard to come by and we’d like to extend this special honor for challenging the status quo. Best of luck Rebel Mclain on your trip down the path less traveled…but let’s hope more people travel in her foot steps!
