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'There was blood everywhere': Disabled teen attacked by TSA agent

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'I sat down on a bench facing away so I couldn't see what they were doing to my daughter.'

Hannah Cohen concluded treatment for brain cancer and was ecstatic to head home to celebrate but in place of an exciting flight home, the 19-year-old was attacked at the Memphis International Airport.

Deacon Keith Fournier Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now >

Highlights

By Kenya Sinclair (CALIFORNIA NETWORK)
CALIFORNIA NETWORK (https://www.youtube.com/c/californianetwork)
7/3/2016 (7 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: Hannah Cohen, Tennessee, TSA, disabled

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - According to New York Daily News, Hannah was physically attacked then locked in jail over night.

Hannah's brain cancer treatment left her blind in one eye, deaf and partially paralyzed, so when the metal detector went off at the airport, Hannah didn't hear the instructions to step aside.


When TSA agents began to close in, the "confused" teen attempted to "get away" from the officer, her mother, Shirley Cohen, described.

Cohen attempted to explain her daughter's condition but her words fell on deaf ears.

"She is a St. Jude's patient and she can get confused," Cohen recalled saying before she was restrained. "Please be gentle. If I could help her, it will make things better."

Cohen told WREG News, "One of them had her down on the ground and hit her head on the floor. There was blood everywhere.

"I felt so helpless. I sat down on a bench facing away so I couldn't see what they were doing to my daughter."


Once Hannah was completely in submission, TSA agents cuffed her and she was booked overnight at a Memphis jail.

When she was finally released, The Guardian reported Hannah hugging her mother fiercely and crying, "I'm sorry, Mama."

The following day, Hannah stood before a judge in court. When the judge saw the injuries, the charges were dropped and $250 in court fees were refunded to the family.

The Cohens filed charges against the Memphis Airport, Airport Police and the Transportation Security Administration for discriminating against Hannah and for not accommodating her during the screening process.

Cohen's federal suit claims the TSA agents caused Hannah "physical and emotional injury as well as emotional injury" to Cohen.

In response to the case, the TSA released a statement reading: "Passengers can call ahead of time to learn more about the screening process for their particular needs or medical situation."

Whether the case will gain traction remains to be seen.

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