TRI In The News

Protest Garners Charges

From The News Record
Original article available here.

A University of Cincinnati student was cited Dec. 30 with disorderly conduct for removing his shirt while waiting in line for a pat down search at the Richmond International Airport, said airport spokesman Troy Bell.

Aaron Tobey, a fifth-year architecture student, was waiting to board a United Airlines flight to Chicago when the incident occurred.

Tobey removed his shirt while in line to be pat down, revealing the entire text of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution written on his chest.

The Fourth Amendment guarantees U.S. citizens against unreasonable search and seizure.

The incident is not the first involving airline passengers removing clothing at security checkpoints since the implementation of stricter security measures by the Transportation Security Administration.

Prior incidents include Tammy Banovac, a 52-year-old woman who cleared airport security at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City wearing nothing but her underwear, a college student in Utah who stripped to a Speedo bathing suit with "Screw Big Sis" -- in reference to Homeland Security Chief Janet Napolitano -- written on his back and Corinne Theile, a woman who was cleared through security in two separate California airports wearing only a bikini.

Tobey was questioned by federal authorities and the Richmond International Airport Police after the incident, then was cited for disorderly conduct and released.

Tobey's arraignment is set for Jan. 10. He will be represented by the Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties defense group based in Virginia.


The Rutherford Institute was unable to be reached for comment.