Full body scanner protestors meet with Austin City Council

Groups opposing the use of full body scanners at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport took their
complaints to Austin City Hall Friday afternoon.

The groups opposing body scanners coming to ABIA made up a cross section that consisted of the Republican Liberty caucus to the Texas ACLU, even someone representing sexual assault victims.

They met behind closed doors with aides of every city council member in an attempt to lobby council to pass a resolution opposing body scanners at ABIA.

They say the devices are health hazards, a violation of privacy and civil liberties and have been proven to be ineffective.

They were asked what can a local city council be expected to do when it’s the federal transportation security administration, or TSA that will ultimately have the final say.

“While the TSA does have ultimate authority over procedures at the airport, a resolution passed by the City Council would send a message to policy makers at the state and federal level that we want real, accountable airport security in Austin that’s going to protect our civil liberties, as well as our lives,” Morgana Gallaway of Austin Women of Liberty said. “Those two things are not mutually exclusive; we can have both, and we can have both at our airport.”

Those protesting the body scanners say the city’s own Airport Advisory Commission has stated it does not believe body scanners are needed, and that they are a radiation risk and the equipment is ineffective.