A Woman Scaled the Statue of Liberty in Protest
What did you do on the Fourth? Eat some BBQ? Post a 'gram?
Therese Patricia Okoumo spent her holiday scaling the base of the Statue of Liberty in protest of President Trump's immigration policies, which included separating migrant parents from their children at the US-Mexico border.
Okoumo is reportedly part of a group called Rise and Resist who journeyed to the historic landmark to protest migrant family separations. Okoumo refused to come down from the statue unless "all the children are released," a source from the New York Police Department told CNN. She climbed the statue around 3 p.m and continued to climb (even resting at the feet of Lady Liberty at one point) for about three hours until law enforcement arrived and carefully helped her down.
Okoumo's demonstration wasn't the only protest at the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday. Rise and Resist, an organization dedicated to fighting for "equality, justice, and human rights" unfurled a banner that read "Abolish I.C.E," calling for the Trump administration to put an end to immigration policies.
Okoumo was arrested and could possibly be charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, among other charges. Rise and Resist took to Twitter to share that they support Okoumo's display of resistance.
"Rise and Resist will be doing jail support for Patricia, and is arranging great legal representation for her," a rep for the group wrote on Twitter. "We will let everyone know how they can further support her as soon as we find out more info."
Okoumo also garnered praise from several activists including Shaun King and Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, who shared a photo of Okoumo along with a quote from the late MLK.
“Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.” #MLK #ThereseOkoumou pic.twitter.com/SVLqyEMDeN
- Be A King (@BerniceKing) July 5, 2018
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