Yesterday. February 6, 2015. I am returning home from a business conference in Austin. I am female, 55 year old college professor and dressed in jeans, boots, and carrying a backpack and purse. I a seasoned traveller. There is no line and I reach into my purse to pull out my little Baggie of liquids. That apparently set off this guy who yelled at me: MAAM! DO NOT remove anything from your purse! PUT YOUR CELL PHONE IN Your purse now! ” I begin to take my watch off out of habit and I guess this is a sign of true criminal behavior. Two agents are now yelling at me not to take my watch off and approaching me as if I am a threat. I keep my cool, say “yes sir” and ask aboutY shoes. NO! They say. I walk through and of course, my boots set off the alarm. They send me back through while barking commands to take my shoes off NOW! I have never been treated this way by anyone. Never. Why treat a woman traveling alone like this? It was insulting, disrespectful, and rude. Can these people not be trained in common decency? I would NEVER treat anyone this way!
By: Karen Jobe