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A Native American woman claims she was told to “giddyup!” and had her braids “snapped like reins” by a US airport security agent.
Tara Houska, an attorney and activist for indigenous rights, was travelling through Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport to return home to Bemidji, Minnesota, on 13 January when a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent said she needed to pat down Ms Houska’s hair.
Ms Houska said the agent pulled her braids behind her shoulders, “laughed and said ‘giddyup!’ as she snapped my braids like reins”.
The experience left her “angry, humiliated".
“My hair is part of my spirit,” she tweeted. “Your ‘fun’ hurt.”
Created with Sketch.
Created with Sketch.
1/15 London
A young boy holds a placard reading 'migration is beautiful' during the march against racism demonstration in London.
Getty
2/15 Warsaw
Protesters rally in Warsaw under the slogan 'Tired of racism and fascism'.
AFP/Getty
3/15 London
An anti-racism demostrators chants with chains around his neck during a march against racism.
Getty
4/15 Vienna
People getting ready to march against racism in Vienna.
Twitter/Wriseup
5/15 Glasgow
Anti-racism demonstrators take part in a rally through the city centre of Glasgow.
Getty
6/15 London
An anti-racism demostrator holds a placard readin 'Laundry is the only thing that should be seperated by colour'.
Getty Images
7/15 Paris
Thousand of protesters demonstrate against police brutality and in defense of migrants and those without papers in Paris.
EPA
8/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators hold placards and chant during a march organised by the group Stand Up to Racism as an expression of unity against racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
Getty
9/15 Athens
A girl poses for a photo during a rally against the EU-Turkey deal blocking mass migration into Europe in Athens.
AP
10/15 Glasgow
Aamer Anwar a prominent Scottish lawyer joins an Anti-racism rally through Glasgow city centre.
Getty
11/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators hold placards and chant in London's march against racism.
Getty
12/15 Glasgow
A man in Glasgow holds a banner reading 'refugees welcome'.
Getty
13/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators let off flares during the march against racism in London.
Getty
14/15 Paris
A protester in a grim reaper disguise holds a shield reading 'State racism, no impunity for police brutality against those without papers' in Paris.
EPA
15/15 Athens
Migrants who live in Greece chant slogans during a rally against the EU-Turkey deal blocking mass migration into Europe, in Athens.
AP
1/15 London
A young boy holds a placard reading 'migration is beautiful' during the march against racism demonstration in London.
Getty
2/15 Warsaw
Protesters rally in Warsaw under the slogan 'Tired of racism and fascism'.
AFP/Getty
3/15 London
An anti-racism demostrators chants with chains around his neck during a march against racism.
Getty
4/15 Vienna
People getting ready to march against racism in Vienna.
Twitter/Wriseup
5/15 Glasgow
Anti-racism demonstrators take part in a rally through the city centre of Glasgow.
Getty
6/15 London
An anti-racism demostrator holds a placard readin 'Laundry is the only thing that should be seperated by colour'.
Getty Images
7/15 Paris
Thousand of protesters demonstrate against police brutality and in defense of migrants and those without papers in Paris.
EPA
8/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators hold placards and chant during a march organised by the group Stand Up to Racism as an expression of unity against racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism.
Getty
9/15 Athens
A girl poses for a photo during a rally against the EU-Turkey deal blocking mass migration into Europe in Athens.
AP
10/15 Glasgow
Aamer Anwar a prominent Scottish lawyer joins an Anti-racism rally through Glasgow city centre.
Getty
11/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators hold placards and chant in London's march against racism.
Getty
12/15 Glasgow
A man in Glasgow holds a banner reading 'refugees welcome'.
Getty
13/15 London
Anti-racism demostrators let off flares during the march against racism in London.
Getty
14/15 Paris
A protester in a grim reaper disguise holds a shield reading 'State racism, no impunity for police brutality against those without papers' in Paris.
EPA
15/15 Athens
Migrants who live in Greece chant slogans during a rally against the EU-Turkey deal blocking mass migration into Europe, in Athens.
AP
Ms Houska said the agent “casually used her authority to dehumanize and disrespect me”.
When confronted, the agent allegedly said: “It was just in fun, I’m sorry. Your hair is lovely.”
The federal security director of TSA in Minnesota, Cliff Van Leuven, has since apologised to Ms Houska for the incident, sending an email to employees saying that the agency will “learn from this”.
“TSA holds its employees to the highest standards of professional conduct and any type of improper behaviour is taken seriously,” the agency said in a statement.
The Independent has contacted TSA for further comment.
It’s not the first time the agency has been accused of offensive behaviour.
In July 2019, two TSA employees were placed on leave for creating a racist display in a major US airport that agency officials described as “reprehensible”.
The display was found at a TSA workstation in Miami International Airport, and showed toy gorillas hanging from nooses.
“We choose not to describe the display under investigation. This reprehensible act runs absolutely counter to the values of the agency, and therefore we do not want to provide it any credence,” a TSA official told The Independent.
“The display was immediately removed and an investigation was launched into who was responsible for the unacceptable behaviour. TSA does not tolerate racist or offensive behaviour and those found responsible will be held accountable for their actions. Two TSA officers have been placed on administrative leave while the investigation is ongoing.”