Originally Posted by
Upgraded!
Yes, but the former could just as easily be a TSO exercising his/her First Amendment rights as anything else and prohibiting them from engaging in casual conversation (from which you have the right to abstain) could be construed as a violation of their right to free speech.
A private individual does not violate another persons right to free speech since this is a limitation on government.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/First_amendment
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom of expression consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Court as applying to the entire federal government even though it is only expressly applicable to Congress. Furthermore, the Court has interpreted, the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment from interference by state governments. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV.