Woman who scaled Statue of Liberty in protest held
NEW YORK: A woman was arrested after staging a dramatic protest against President Donald Trump’s separation of migrant families, climbing the Statue of Liberty and forcing its evacuation on Independence Day.
Wearing a “Rise and Resist” T-shirt, the woman on the fabled symbol of welcome to immigrants at one point told authorities that she would only come down when parents are reunited with all migrant children separated from them by the Trump administration.
“She resisted at the beginning. She would not come down by voice command,” National Park Service spokesman Jerry Willis said.
So police placed her in custody, Willis said, noting that the woman was facing multiple federal charges including trespassing and disorderly conduct.
“We assume that she is protesting,” Willis said, based on the woman’s remarks to police.
After nearly four hours on the statue, the woman finally accompanied police down off the monument, tethered to them by wires.
The woman, who has not yet been identified, at one point walked from one side to the other beneath the statue’s sandal.
New York police assisted US Park Police to remove her from Lady Liberty.
Local media first reported that the woman was among demonstrators opposed to Trump’s immigration policy who protested at the site earlier.