Judge slams her in statue climb, no jail
The demonstrator busted last year for scaling the base of the Statue of Liberty in a Fourth of July protest was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation and 200 hours of community service in a bizarre Manhattan courtroom appearance.
Patricia Okoumou, 45, marched into the courtroom with clear tape wrapped around her face in layers so thick that she was unable to see — a metaphor for the suppression of her free speech, according to a friend. She also sported a headband with the words “I care!” written across its front.
“If you want to proceed, she can take the tape off,” said Manhattan Federal Court Magistrate Gabriel Gorenstein before the facial wrap came off and the hearing continued.
The July 4, 2018, statue protest was intended as a statement against the separation of families at the Mexican border by the Trump administration.
Okoumou, whose four-hour demonstration forced the evacuation of 4,330 people from Liberty Island on one of its busiest tourist days, launched into a courtroom rant before the sentence was imposed.
“Donald J. Trump terrorized immigrant families entering the country — legally…I am frightened by this country’s moral bankruptcy,” said Okoumou, addressing the judge directly. “Your society is not an advanced civilization, your honor.”
Gorenstein, in handing down his sentence, stressed that Okoumou put first responders in danger while ruining the holiday for thousands of tourists.
“The law that prevents people from climbing the Statue of Liberty is not unjust.”
“The defendant apparently thinks because her cause is important, it doesn’t matter the danger she causes others,” he added.