The Rise and Resist group is organizing a demonstration at the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA on July 4, 2018 on this social media photo. Rise and Resist / via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALE. NEW YORK – A demonstration against US immigration policy forced the evacuation of the Statue of Liberty on July 4, with a group deploying a pedestal banner and a woman holding police away for hours After climbing The woman and at least six protesters who unfurled the banner were arrested, while the climb forced thousands of visitors to leave the symbolic American symbol of the nation's birthday.
About 30 meters (100 feet) above the ground, the woman engaged in a four-hour clash with the police before two policemen ascend to the base and head for her
. the statue to a ladder, and she descended about 8 meters (25 feet) to the point of observation of the monument and was placed in custody.
The ascent was not expected
The woman, Thérèse Okoumou, told the police that she was protesting against the separation of immigrant children from parents who illegally cross the US-Mexican border, according to a federal official who was informed of what happened but was not allowed to discuss it and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The climber was one of 40 protesters who deployed a banner calling for the abolition of the federal government's immigration agency. according to Jay W. Walker, an organizer with Rise and Resist, who organized the event.
Walker stated that other protesters did not know that the woman would climb, which was not part of the planned protest.
"We do not know if she had planned this before she was ever at Liberty Island or if it was an impulse decision of the moment," Walker said.
Regardless, he said that he felt that advertising would help the gro
"Abolish the ice"
A spokesman for the National Park Service, who runs the monument, saw things differently.
"I am really sorry for these visitors today," spokesman Jerry Willis said.
"People have the right to express themselves. I do not think they have the right to co-opt the Statue of Liberty to do it, "he added.
The climber climbed up from the point of observation, Willis said. were forced to leave Liberty Island a few hours before 6:15 pm Earlier and further, at least six people were arrested after unfurling a banner reading "Abolish ICE", referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. United States, whose agents arrest and expel immigrants illegally to the United States.
According to Willis, federal regulations prohibit hanging banners at the monument
Rise and Resist is opposed to the United States. President Donald Trump's administration and advocates the end of family evictions and separations at the border
US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the president's immigration policy is a step forward for Public Security
Zero Tolerance Policy
Under Trump's zero tolerance policy, the government began to demand border agents. He entered the country illegally
. More than 2,000 children were separated from their parents within six weeks in the spring. 659003] Under public pressure, Trump later stopped his policy of taking the children of their detained parents.
A federal judge in California ordered the Trump administration last month to reunite more than 2,000 children with their parents in 30 days. "Abolish ICE" has become a rallying cry during protests in the country and for some Democratic leaders seeking to strengthen their progressive credentials.
But Trump, a Republican, said on Twitter last week that the abolition of ICE "would never happen!"
Welcome Symbol
The Statue of Liberty has long been a symbol of welcome for immigrants and refugees who come to Canada. in America. He was also a cadre for demonstrations and other actions that forced evacuations.
In February, someone hung a banner on which was reading "Refugees Welcome" from the observation deck. A year earlier, a man from West Virginia was sentenced in time after appealing for a bomb threat that forced the evacuation of Liberty Island, returning 3,200 people on boats for the first time. lower. Manhattan and New Jersey
In 2000, 12 people demonstrating against the use of the Puerto Rican island of Vieques for bombing exercises were arrested after a man was mounted on the arrows of the statue and attached flags and banners. – AP
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