Casey Kelley, KTOO – Juneau
State Representative Sharon Cissna returned to Juneau today aboard the state ferry Matanuska, vowing to keep fighting for the rights of airplane travelers who are being subjected to what she calls “intrusive” searches.
Four days ago Cissna was kept from boarding a flight to Juneau after she declined to undergo a pat down search at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She’d already submitted to a full body scan as required by the Transportation Security Administration. But Cissna – a breast cancer survivor – says TSA officials told her the pat down search was necessary because the scan showed she’d had a mastectomy.
Having been through the pat down once before, she refused.
Cissna’s colleagues in the state house passed a resolution supporting her yesterday. The Anchorage Democrat says she’ll meet with some of her fellow lawmakers this weekend to discuss other resolutions they might take up to speak out against unnecessary TSA searches.
Cissna has received media requests from around the world since she declined the pat down. Her office in the state capital building is filled with flowers sent by people across the country who have heard about her refusal.
The TSA has not commented on Cissna’s specific case.
Download Audio (MP3)
