NEW YORK — Authorities say a Fourth of July protester who held police at bay for hours after she climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty, causing an evacuation, will face a judge in New York.
A federal official says the woman told police she was protesting the separation of immigrant children from parents who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.
A court appearance is expected sometime Thursday.
Climber Identified as Therese Okoumou
The official identified the woman as Therese Okoumou. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss it and spoke on the condition of anonymity. A message left at a possible phone number for the defendant hasn’t been returned.
A group that organized a protest at the statue earlier Wednesday says she also took part in unfurling a banner at the statue’s pedestal. But the group says no one else was aware she would climb the base.
At least six people were arrested in the banner demonstration.
Details of the Rescue
After two New York Police Department officers went up to the base and reached her, news helicopter video showed Okoumou and the officers moving carefully along the edge of the statue’s robes toward a ladder police had set up.
She climbed down about 25 feet to the statue’s observation point, with another officer descending ahead of her.
As they approached, she initially moved away, took off her shoes and appeared to be starting to climb further.
Then she sat against the statue’s foot, and the officers went up to her. They put on her shoes and attached a harness to her.
Her climb spurred the evacuation of Liberty Island.
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