Woman tries to climb Statue of Liberty in apparent protest of ICE
JUL 04, 2018 | 4:25 PM
A woman wearing a
“Rise and Resist” shirt spent the 4th of July climbing the base of the Statue of Liberty, officials said.
The unidentified climber was seen scaling the base of the Liberty Island statue about 3 p.m. this afternoon, following a protest on Liberty Island.
Liberty Island was evacuated as a precaution as U.S. Parks workers tried to bring the climber down. Parks workers also cordoned off the base of the statue with chairs to prevent anyone from getting close, witnesses said.
The
NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit,
Harbor Unit and
Aviation Unit were called in
to assist Parks Police, an NYPD spokeswoman said.
The woman was seen walking along the base of the statue by Lady Liberty’s sandals, then decided to sit down by the folds of her robe, witnesses said.
First responders climbed to the base of the statue and
set up a ladder to talk to the woman and convince her to come down.
Investigators first believed that the climber was part of an
anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest sponsored by the group
Rise and Resist that held on the island earlier Wednesday.
Members of the group said that the daredevil was not part of their protest.
Parks police arrested and cited seven people after the group unfurled an “Abolish ICE” banner at the base of the statue, according to a U.S. Parks Police spokesman. The protestors also
put on black T-shirts that spelled out “Abolish ICE.”
Ken Kidd, 60, of Manhattan, who participated in the Liberty Island protest said that visitors to the landmark applauded when they unfurled the banner.
“We were met with cheers and applause,” Kidd said. “Some people had questions and others wanted answers. It was a very informational and educational moment. A lot of people were very grateful for the opportunity to talk.”
The seven protestors were charged with unlawful protest.
“ICE has proved to be a threat to our liberty and way of life, and should be abolished,” added
Leon Kirschner, Rise and Resist member. “They go after the most vulnerable among us, acting without due process to detain people. For-profit companies are making money off family separation. This has to stop now.”
The protest comes a week after a Wisconson congressman put in legislation to abolish ICE...
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...704-story.html
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