Bizarre TSA “Freeze” Security Drill Caught on Camera:
The TSA’s bizarre new policy where it orders travelers who have already passed security to “freeze” on command has been caught on camera, with the clip illustrating once more how the federal agency has implemented a series of ludicrous policies that seemingly have no other purpose than to act as an obedience test for the traveling public.
The video shows the final 24 seconds of a 2 minute period during which travelers were ordered to “freeze” by TSA workers and were not allowed to move.
One TSA screener is heard to say, “stay right where you are,” at a man who is walking through the airport, as the other static travelers look on in bewilderment.
According to the You Tube user responsible for uploading the clip, “This video was shot within the “secure” area of the terminal, BEYOND the security gate.”
“Note that the TSA “guard” is offering no explanation, only giving harsh threats and orders to stay still. Note that there was NO event or threat taking place of any kind,” he adds.
The “freeze” policy, which has been experienced by numerous travelers across the country, is known as Code Bravo Sierra or simply Code Bravo by the TSA.
New York Times columnist Joe Sharkey described how he was caught up in the policy on two separate occasions last year while traveling through airports in Atlanta and Los Angeles.
When Sharkey failed to obey a TSA screener who shouted “freeze,” he was assailed by another traveler who “growled” at him, “You’re supposed to freeze!” as other passengers complied with the bizarre demand. Sharkey later discovered that the TSA had no power to force travelers to comply with the command.
“Passengers are not required to ‘freeze’ in place like statues,” TSA spokeswoman Kristin Lee admitted.
“It was clear to me that travelers believed they were required to stop and stand motionless — even those who had cleared security and were merely within shouting distance of the checkpoint. Officers seemed to reinforce that impression, too,” writes Sharkey.
As WeWontFly.com’s James Babb describes, this is nothing more than “obedience training.” The American people and travelers in general are being ‘broken in’ to accept their subservience in what represents the human equivalent of horse training.
“There is literally no other purpose to this “drill” than to reinforce the notion in travelers’ heads that this is a “security state”, and that you may be told to stop dead in your tracks by a TSA “voice of authority” at any time. Legally, TSA has NO RIGHT TO STOP YOU… but it’s hard to imagine that defending your rights by walking away would end well in a (phony) tense situation if there happens to be an armed police officer nearby,” concludes the You Tube user who uploaded the video.
This absurd policy has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with security. Would a terrorist really be so dumb as to make himself stand out from the crowd by refusing to freeze and making himself look conspicuous?
It makes no sense whatsoever, until you realize that this is just another “layer” of pointless TSA security theater. It’s about reinforcing the notion that people are mandated to obey every order made by someone in uniform no matter how asinine.
The TSA has also provoked controversy by implementing other preposterous policies which have a tenuous security justification, most notably a new procedure where TSA agents test travelers’ drinks for explosives after they have already passed through security and purchased beverages inside the secure area of the airport.
Given that these bizarre policies are solely based around coercing obedience and have nothing to do with genuine security, we are encouraging Americans to show civil disobedience and reclaim their human dignity by opting out and filming TSA procedures during Thanksgiving week November 19-26. Click here for more details about the campaign or click here for the Facebook page.
Remember, it is your right to opt out of radiation firing naked body scanners and the TSA’s website also admits that it is perfectly legal to film TSA procedures, whether that’s inside an airport, in a subway, at a political event, a music concert or wherever else TSA screeners have infested. The TSA also admits it has no power to force you to “freeze” as is depicted in the video above.
Pressure directly on the TSA will NOT work; they have a hidden agenda. HOWEVER, what if everyone who got hassled for something they bought inside the security area SUED the airport?
Interesting idea, RLG. You could allege that the airport vendor had sold you a potentially dangerous item without informing you. How do you establish that the item was potentially dangerous? Call the TSA thugs as witnesses. How could they not testify that it was potentially dangerous after they viewed it with suspicion and even tested it? It’s kinda like judicial judo.
If that happened all over the country, THAT could put some political pressure on the TSA – especially if the airports start loosing and have to close all concessions inside the security area.
I doubt it. Most Americans are cattle. They have demonstrated this fact beyond dispute. Mooooo!
Proposed line to say to TSA goon before “adopting the position”:
“WHEN you’ve finished squeezing my balls and found NOTHING, I reserve the right to squeeze yours. After all the Bible says ‘do unto others..'”.
I wouldn’t do it lightly either 😉
I read somewhere men in E St Lois can’t wear blue or red they’re gang colors. Children aren’t allowed outside anytime. Anyone in violation is arrested on the spot?
Yes, that is supposed to be in place, Even vehicles will be stopped as I hear on the news. I am not sure how long it will last, but it is for East St. Louis. I wonder if they are going to go upon the freeways and arrest people passing through with red and blue?
Does TSA stand for Testing Stupidity in America?
It as though they are intentionally making fools of the American people by a performing bad SNL skit and calling it airline security.
They have wasted billions of dollars in passenger and airline time taking naked images and groping us, emptying terminals for hours when they screw up, testing drinks bought within feet of the jet way and doing warrantless interrogations of innocent travelers, demanding answers to questions that law enforcement cannot even ask.
Now they add a child’s game to their procedures, unbelievable. What’s next from these morons, hopscotch from the checkpoint to the gate or get ejected from the airport?
Now they are showing up at bus and train stations and even at public events that don’t even involve transportation. Soon they’ll be stopping people leaving their house under the pretext of “safety”.
What’s next from this unstable agency, random executions? TSA is out of control and must be compelled to act rationally before this nonsense and incompetence results in a tragedy.
It’s not moronic – from a certain point of view. Theirs.
It is arbitrary and unreasonable – on purpose. To acclimate the people to being treated arbitrarily and unreasonably.
It is degrading – on purpose. To shed us of our dignity, to get us used to having our personal space – our very persons – violated by the scum of the earth.
Understand this – and you will understand.
There are a couple of key points to remember in resisting TSA, if you should get the opportunity.
First, they are not officers, despite their flagrantly illegal use of the word. A sworn officer is a different animal; they are decently well-trained, and have sworn an oath to the Constitution…as little as that means today, it’s important. Most importantly, they don’t have arrest powers. That’s a bit murky, because under Common Law we all have arrest power and a cop’s is no different than yours. Nonetheless it’s been bastardized over time–and a TSA “officer” doesn’t have the right. He’s not a sworn officer.
Secondly, from all the successful resistance stories I’ve read and seen on YouTube, it’s vital to remain absolutely calm. Immediately ask for a supervisor AND a nearby cop. Get the cop involved FIRST, at your volition–not the TSA’s. Cops generally hate TSA, and by enlisting him first you’ve driven an important psychological gap between him and TSA and made him your ally.
Remind everyone that the TSA goon is not a sworn officer; inflate the cop’s ego with this. Now you’ve set them against each other, because you’ve diminished the TSA and inflated the cop; the TSA will be fuming and trying to claim the high ground, and the cop will defend his turf. Congratulations! You’re no longer the target.
The best example of this was a guy who calmly, insistently, and without wavering demanded to be boarded without being scanned or groped. He offered to go through the metal detector–but no more. After two hours, the cops walked him through the airport to his gate.
I’ve read similar and seen accounts, and in every case they remained calm–don’t give the cop an excuse for a disorderly conduct charge!
Other success stories involved bringing printed copies of TSA’s own rules–especially those stating that recording/filming is legal. I wouldn’t try any resistance without a video rolling and uploading live to Qik.
I’m going to participate in the Thanksgiving Infowars.com Opt-Out and Film protest; I’ll probably just get a few friends and shoot video at the airport.
It will be interesting to see if they turn off the scanners like they did for the last national Opt-Out Day.
Just wait till this shit starts happening more and more on the roadways!
Another great article from you, but a couple of questions: You stated “The TSA also admits it has no power to force you to “freeze” as is depicted in the video above”. Does that mean a person could keep walking? And does our right to film include audio? I’ve looked all over their website and can’t find info you cited. Do you have links to these?
Hi Neal,
I don’t know – but I’d keep on walking, myself. I’ve had it. Enough’s enough.
This is so patently and absurdly evil. It reminds me of that old game we used to play in Elementary School called “Red Light Green Light” Remember that?
The other absurdity is the “testing” of drinks AFTER having passed the fondling gauntlet. WTF?! How in the hell did that get started?
If you’re not allowed to bring anything past their Fed-Fondling two-by-two hands-of-blue pussy patrol, then how on gods green earth do the beverages served in the “security zone” qualify as being suspicious?
You might as well tell them to shut down the concession stands if that’s a problem for them. Might want to ban all “questionable” magazines or newspapers too as being full of thought-crime and all. You never know about Al-Qaeda! Infiltrating those overpriced fast-food joints on the concourse. Contaminating our precious bodily fluids!
General Ripper must have been reincarnated.
MoT–Thank you!
You’ve given me an idea.
Mockery is the most powerful political protest; it decimates bad ideas.
At the upcoming Thanksgiving Opt-Out and Film anti-TSA event (see PrisonPlanet.com), we can have a field day with the TSA idiots.
If they try the “freeze” game, start laughing and loudly yell “red light!”. Or “You forgot to say ‘Simon Says’!” If you can get a few of the Amoricons around you to laugh, you’ve won–because for a brief time, you’ve broken the trance.
And seriously–are people really still afraid of the Big Bad Brown Terrorists? How CAN they be, after so long, and with no follow-ups?
The PTB must be dizzy with delight that they only had to do one big false flag, and few paltry follow-ups (shoe bomber, underwear bomber) to completely bamboozle a whole nation.
A fantastic return on investment!
Hey, I like that, “you didn’t say Simon says.” Of course, they would probably not get it, probably saying something like “who’s Simon?” But I guess you can answer, “Where’s Waldo?” ha ha
I’m reminded of what George Carlin said.
Too awesome! I miss this guy..
Actually I have “plans” of my own that would quite literally make the PTB shit in their collective pants. Simply based on what you said, the power of ridicule and biting satire. I can’t stand Rush Limbaugh, did eons ago, but one thing he says stands out for me “Using absurdity to point out the absurd”. That’s me in a nut shell. And while I’m not going into the details I think it’s something that can and should go viral.
Code Bravo Sierra…that’s rich. In the phonetic alphabet, Bravo Sierra stands for BS, which is exactly what this whole thing is.
In Hong Kong we saw a policeman at a barricade yell at a woman to stop crossing the barricade and the street. She ignored him. It was hilarious to watch. What if everyone kept walking and ignoring in defiant bliss?
That used to be the American way…. until America became the USSA.
What’s funny in the People’s Republic was my driver totally defied the policeman, rolling down his window and yelling at him, then going straight instead of to the right as the policeman was directing him. last I checked, The People’s Republic was still a communist government.
But at the entrance to Tiannamen Square, they have security big time like our airports. The female officers took more time checking my bag and me than others, and I could see that they were whispering to each other (which they didn’t have to do since I don’t understand the language) and smiling. I didn’t mind because they were really cute (yeah, if I was brave enough I would have asked all of them to dinner, ha ha).
Now if we had those police officers in the TSA, I would personally ask them to strip search me. ha ha
If you’re even marginally good-looking, they were probably HOPING you’d ask them out. One, two, even all! 😉
STOP FLYING UNTIL THIS BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT IS ELIMINATED!!!!
I agree, Steve –
It infuriates me that so many Americans aren’t willing to take a stand against this, when all it would take is a one or two month refusal by 20 percent or so of the public to put an end to it.
Airline traffic is WAY down, Eric–I was a contractor at Continental before they were acquired by United (it wasn’t a merger)–and they were complaining about it already.
But the schmucks and psychopaths at the head of the airlines know full well it won’t do to make too much noise about TSA.
After all, revenues down? Company on the verge of failing? No problem–do what airlines have always done, go begging to rich Uncle.
It would take a lot more than a 20% drop in tourist traffic to hold the airlines’ feet to the fire enough for them to protest TSA effectively.
Note that I say tourist travel. That’s the least profitable segment to the airlines. If you REALLY want to hurt them, kill business travel.
But guess what? The Sheeple are so cowed by precarious employment, they won’t stop traveling for work for any reason. “I can’t afford to lose my job.” And if the job requires travel, they bow their heads, mumble “yes sir” sotto voce, and cringe quietly inside as some pedophile power-tripper prods their privates.
It’s fucking sickening. There’s no PRINCIPLE left in this country, everything’s just expedience, and compromise, and going along to get along. Nobody gets angry anymore! How do we get people to show righteous anger again?
Being “nice” is for pussies. I’m nice–until I’m crossed. That’s when it’s time to stop being “nice” and grow some balls!
That’s interesting, Meth – I wasn’t aware there had been a significant downtick. Good to know!
I agree in re business travel.
I know for a fact that I’m the only auto journalist who used to regularly attend (often, one a month) the “long” and “short” lead drive events hosted by the car companies. I told them I’d love to be there, and that I know I am putting myself at a competitive disadvantage (because I no longer see the “latest stuff” months before it becomes regular production and available at dealers) but I will not surrender my dignity or my 4th Amendment right to travel unmolested. Therefore, I cannot attend the event. No one else – that I’m aware of – has taken a stand. I’m not trying to portray myself as especially principled. I am lucky in that I can afford to suffer the loss of some income – and work for myself, not some company. I realize that others are not similarly situated.
That said, it really deflates me that so many people are unwilling to take a stand if it represents even a minor inconvenience. All too many will put up with anything – and do as they’re told.
I commend you most profusely. When I read my cable, internet, cellphone, insurance, etc. I’m amazed at what kind of cowering serf I really am to agree to these acceptable use terms.
Basically I am in gross violation as are most of us.
Somehow the technology men creates is turned against him and at least you have taken a stand.
I haven’t flown either but more because a vague aversion to humility and injustice.
I also hate driving and having any one see my expensive property in public.
I mentally understand The right things to do, but truth be told I use the run rabbit run and down the rabbit hole techniques to gain the illusion of still being free.
I deeply appreciate yours, Dom, and other posters IRL courageous stands.
I have a long way to go as far as being fully libertarian at all times versus showing a compliant face to work family and friends while being a totally different freedom rebel in private when its safe to take off the mask.
It’s a struggle for all of us – and each of us has to decide what’s worth taking a stand for and more, when we’re able to take a stand. If I were 25 again and working on staff at a newspaper writing car columns and my job there depended on me attending an event someplace, would I refuse – and probably lose my job (and career)? Probably not. So, I don’t condemn people who are faced with the prospect of putting their livelihoods on the line in order to take a stand against TSA Submission Training – and choose to be “trained.”
But I do have a beef with the people who fly by choice -such as for pleasure travel, or to visit friends/family. That is a sacrifice any of us can – should, in my view – make. It would also be enough, if enough people took a stand – to make it plain that this TSA shit has gone way too far and that it’s time to dial it back.
Maybe its time to get company nearing going for those who have to travel and perhaps find an alturnative to getting work done and letting all the traveling workers be able to stand up with some dignity after all don’t these companies realize. That those workers being degraded just so they can make us all act like sheep are representatives of their companies. If I owned a company I’d be damned if I would allow the people that work hard for me to be treated like this, and this is just the beginning wake up people miss a day of the lies being told to all the country isn’t getting better its about to take one big nose dive and everyone that isn’t in gov. Or super rich to the point of getting out along with all the crooked polititions. We will be left to deal with the disaster of their making its time to stop being pushed around and stepped on and start standing together while we can and be God boycott. The damn planes if that’s what it takes to be treated with respect
Coach travel is subsidized by and large by business travelers. And the airlines are a money losing proposition to many. It’s like going into the restaurant business except, while food businesses die like flies, your airlines are kept on life support.
Sorry to say but I work for this branch of the government and the guy that wrote this article has no idea what he is talking about, very mis-informing article. Tsa has every right to stop someone who may have something potentially dangerous on them, on the checkpoint or on the sterile side of the airport, they are asked to stop in alot of occasions so they won’t mingle with other cleared passengers,so they can’t handoff anything dangerous. Would you want, your children, parents, or grandparents flying on a plane that was’t protected? 9/11 wasnt that long ago, and we are a relatively new branch that is still perfecting how to do things, and has to constantly change screening with ever-changing threats, we don’t enjoy inconvincing people, but in this day and age, that’s whats required, it’s a sad reality, but this is what its come to.
AA,
Anyone might have something “dangerous” on them – but I’d rather we didn’t treat everyone as if they did in fact have something “dangerous” on them.
You may be well-intended, but what you advocate – prior restraint, “pre-crime’ – is a mortal threat to a free society.
Every tyranny that ever was claimed to be acting to “keep us safe,” or for “reasons of security.”
In a free society, risks are accepted as the price of freedom.
You’d rather be a capo, apparently – empowered to treat your fellow citizens exactly as KGB cretins treated Soviet proles.
I have nothing but contempt for what you and those like you are doing to this country.
You’ve never stopped a terrorist.
You miss 75% of weapons brought through in tests.
You harass children, grandmothers, grandfathers, crippled children, infants, and pretty women.
You steal electronics, cash, and other valuables.
You powertrip to gratify your pitiful egos.
You’re rude.
You’re generally fat.
You’re ignorant.
And we ALL hate you, no matter who pretends not to hate you.
Nothing you do keeps us “safe”.
You’re a joke.
And when the collapse comes, you better burn your paystubs, your uniform, and your ID…because we’re pissed and we’re going to prosecute you.
Let us for a moment assume the plane needs protecting. Why does it need protecting?
It needs protecting because the US federal government has conducted a foreign policy which has harmed people overseas for generations.
It strikes me as insane to turn to the people who have put you in danger to protect you. But then what’s done is done.
Who should protect the plane? The owner and/or operator of the plane. Simple as that.
Why am I such a self destructive contraban swilling cynic? I’ve seen the future. It’s a 47 year old virgin singing ‘I’m an Oscar Meyer Weiner’ in his beige pajamas.
Not me. I’d rather live underground live my own way and maybe starve.
– Edgar Friendly. Demolition man.