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Sebastian Joseph-Day, the defensive lineman of Los Angeles Chargers, has accused the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of sexual assault at John Wayne Airport in Southern California. In a series of Twitter posts on Friday, the lineman shared that he felt uncomfortable with the pat-down process and asked the male TSA agent to stop assaulting him. However, his request prompted three more agents to swarm him.
I really just got sexually assaulted by TSA at @JohnWayneAir. After I asked the gentleman to please stop BC I’m uncomfortable and I feel that this part of the check is unnecessary (After he felt what was needed). Then they told me I was the problem after 3 TSA agents swarmed me.
— Sebastian Joseph-Day (@SJD_51) March 24, 2023
The NFL player further explained that he is not sharing the incident on social media for sympathy but to raise awareness so that no one else has to endure what he experienced. Joseph-Day added that the process was dehumanizing, and he had never experienced anything like that before, despite his extensive traveling for work and personal reasons.
Following the allegations, John Wayne Airport released a statement acknowledging the incident and stated that they are looking into the matter to determine if proper procedures were followed. TSA has also assured that they are committed to treating every traveler with respect and dignity while carrying out their security screening responsibilities.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time such accusations have been made against TSA. Several incidents have been reported in the past, where travelers have shared their experience of being subjected to invasive and unnecessary pat-downs by TSA agents. The incidents have raised concerns about the agency’s procedures and sparked conversations on the need for reforms.
In conclusion, the TSA must prioritize revising its pat-down procedures to ensure travelers’ safety and comfort while undergoing screenings.