Claiming airport screeners were “harassing” him, Oregon resident John E. Brennan, 49, stripped naked at Portland International Airport on Tuesday night.
Brennan "disrobed completely" at a security area, and refused to put his clothes back on despite requests by TSA screeners and police, according to the Port of Portland Police Department summary report.
Brennan remained nude and “exposed to all passengers including children both inside and outside of the secured area,” causing two screening lanes to be closed and some passengers to cover their eyes and their children's eyes. Others stepped out of the screening lanes to “look, laugh and take photos.”
Brennan told police that he flies a lot and had disrobed as a form of protest against TSA screeners he felt were harassing him.
Brennan said in an interview with the Associated Press that he did not arrive at the airport with the intention of getting naked. He decided to protest after he was pulled aside after going through the metal detector and a pat-down, he said.
"The most effective way to tell them I'm not carrying a bomb is take off my clothes," Brennan said.
Brennan was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure.
Brennan has criticized TSA previously, saying on Twitter last May that airport security violated his privacy during a pat-down in San Jose. The tweet came after intense criticism in 2010 over the government's use of full-body scanning machines and invasive pat-downs in airport security.
This was not the first time Brennan has undressed for political reasons. In Portland, the World Naked Bike Ride attracts thousands each year to protest oil dependence. Brennan said he has ridden in the event three times.
Brennan was scheduled to fly from Portland to San Jose, Calif., on Alaska Airlines and, according to the police summary, neither alcohol or drugs were involved.
Last week a woman disrobed at Denver International Airport after being asked to put out a cigarette she was smoking in a non-smoking area by a gate.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Find more by Harriet Baskas on StuckatTheAirport.com and follow her on Twitter.