Arrested Statue of Liberty Climber Identified as Congolese National
5 Jul 2018
The woman who climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday is in federal custody and has been identified as a Congolese national. Therese Patricia Okoumou, 44, who immigrated to the United States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and lives in Staten Island, was taken into federal custody Wednesday night for allegedly breaking a federal regulation prohibiting people from unfurling banners on the monument, the New York Post reported
Okoumou allegedly engaged in a three-hour standoff with authorities before officers escorted her down from the Statue of Liberty. Authorities arrested six people participating in the demonstration.
The left-wing activist group Rise and Resist NYC, which organized a protest near the statue earlier on Wednesday to abolish the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, said she unfurled a large banner with the words “ABOLISH ICE” near the statue’s pedestal.
Members of the group initially distanced themselves from her but admitted later she had been a part of the activist group. The group claims none of its members had been aware she would scale the base of the statue.
Wednesday’s arrest is not Okoumou’s first run-in with the law. In 2017, she was arrested and charged with allegedly obstructing governmental administration, trespassing, and unlawful assembly for protesting outside a Department of Labor building in downtown Manhattan and refusing to obey police commands.
In 2011, the New York City Department of Sanitation hit her with $4,500 in fines for illegally posting flyers on Manhattan’s utility poles, advertising her services as a personal trainer.
More outrage on this from you tightly righties than over the white supremacst who rammed and ripped through a group of equal rights advocates and killing one.
Typical. Pfft
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Thomas Jefferson.
Therese Patricia Okoumou, 44, appeared in Manhattan federal court and pleaded not guilty to charges of trespassing, interfering with agency functions and disorderly conduct.
She thanked a few people, including former first lady Michelle Obama.
"Our beloved first lady that I care so much about said that when they go low, we go high, and I went as high as I could,"
Somehow the words etched on the base of the Statue of Liberty have been forgotten. This woman peacefully protested about the USA's cruel and disgusting separation and detainment of people and kids in cages. She is exercising her rights to do so and she brilliant chose the perfect day and the perfect location to do so. Kudos to her.
If people there had their day ruined because of her...well, then, we know who the true "snowflakes" are.
Somehow the words etched on the base of the Statue of Liberty have been forgotten. This woman peacefully protested about the USA's cruel and disgusting separation and detainment of people and kids in cages. She is exercising her rights to do so and she brilliant chose the perfect day and the perfect location to do so. Kudos to her.
If people there had their day ruined because of her...well, then, we know who the true "snowflakes" are.
Is it LEGAL to climb the Statue of Liberty? "Unhinged"
Somehow the words etched on the base of the Statue of Liberty have been forgotten. This woman peacefully protested about the USA's cruel and disgusting separation and detainment of people and kids in cages. She is exercising her rights to do so and she brilliant chose the perfect day and the perfect location to do so. Kudos to her.
If people there had their day ruined because of her...well, then, we know who the true "snowflakes" are.
I would assume she ruined the day of those who had hoped to go visit the statue yesterday...
Whenever Americans get detained in foreign prisons people immediately cry for the US government to get involved. Why are some of you justifying for the separation and detainment of not just adults, but children who have fled horrific lives in drug controlled ganglands that are as violent, if not more so, than ISIS and Taliban controlled areas?
And here I thought the Statue of Liberty's torch symbolically and proudly shined the light at the golden door to take them in?
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
It's sad how meaningless these words have become to the right.
I would assume she ruined the day of those who had hoped to go visit the statue yesterday...
I would assume those who are separated from their families and detained in cages have far more to worry about then some tourist seeing the Statue of Liberty.
It's called morals and it is called having compassion for your fellow man, woman and child.
I would assume she ruined the day of those who had hoped to go visit the statue yesterday...
I would assume those who are separated from their families and detained in cages have far more to worry about then some tourist seeing the Statue of Liberty.
It's called morals and it is called having compassion for your fellow man, woman and child.
I would assume those who are separated from their families and detained in cages have far more to worry about then some tourist seeing the Statue of Liberty.
I would certainly hope that if you are trying to illegally cross into another country that you would have more to worry about than that.
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It's called morals and it is called having compassion for your fellow man, woman and child.
Where do the law and the truth fit into your compassion?
I never cease to be amazed by people of European descent talk about immigration laws and illegally entering another's country.
Our ancestors stole this land from the Native Americans. It was a genocide of the original inhabitants of N. America. Then, the same group of people pass laws that make entering this country legally almost impossible for the poor and desperate and are in search of better opportunities.
I love this country, but I am embarrassed by our immigration laws and the enforcement of them.
Whenever Americans get detained in foreign prisons people immediately cry for the US government to get involved. Why are some of you justifying for the separation and detainment of not just adults, but children who have fled horrific lives in drug controlled ganglands that are as violent, if not more so, than ISIS and Taliban controlled areas?
And here I thought the Statue of Liberty's torch symbolically and proudly shined the light at the golden door to take them in?
So people from their countries should get involved and have them returned to their own countries.
Enter LEGALLY and the right way GREAT! FANTASTIC WELCOME!
Enter ILLEGALLY face the consequences of the LAW. Don't do the crime if you can't do the time!
I would assume she ruined the day of those who had hoped to go visit the statue yesterday...
I would assume those who are separated from their families and detained in cages have far more to worry about then some tourist seeing the Statue of Liberty.
It's called morals and it is called having compassion for your fellow man, woman and child.
Some of those 4000 people who were evacuated were the immigrants who came in he right way why should they suffer?
I never cease to be amazed by people of European descent talk about immigration laws and illegally entering another's country.
Our ancestors stole this land from the Native Americans. It was a genocide of the original inhabitants of N. America. Then, the same group of people pass laws that make entering this country legally almost impossible for the poor and desperate and are in search of better opportunities.
I love this country, but I am embarrassed by our immigration laws and the enforcement of them.
I'm not a fan of our immigration laws either.. however I also understand a couple of things.. 1. Almost every country on the planet was, at one time or another, founded by war or hostile take-over. The USA is a sovereign nation now with borders... and 2. It's not the 16 or 1700s any more and our laws need to reflect the changing of the times.
As was posted in a different thread, those detained/arrested at the border dropped last month from 40K down to 34K.. keeping in mind, this doesn't count the ones we didn't catch, just the ones we did... so I have to ask, if we weren't stopping them, how long is that sustainable? If we weren't trying to stop them, would that number double? triple? Seriously, if we just left it open, how many people do you think would be left in El Salvador and Nicaragua?
--I'm sure the N. Americans who lived here would have been consoled by the white men stealing their land because:
A. It was okay to do in the 1600s and 1700s, but would not be okay in the 21st century.
B. Other nations were founded by a hostile take-over.
I'm sure both made the genocide of their people acceptable.
Secondly, this thread was about some woman protesting at the Statue of Liberty. PDX and I referred to the poem that is etched into the statue. I know there is a law about whether or not you can climb the Statue of Liberty, but I'm sorry, in the Court of Vers' Law, that is not such a terrible crime.
She was protesting something she found unjust.
This country gained independence for similar acts and protests have helped improve conditions in our country for most of its life. Protests against child labor, unsafe working conditions, monopolies, racial inequality, gender inequality, misguided wars, etc, etc.
So, while folks like Vambo might want to view that woman as some vicious criminal, there are plenty of even-minded folks such as myself that refuse to condemn her. I think you know by now that I am not the type of liberal who whines about the GOP constantly and that I try to see both sides of these issues.
DC, I didn't think this story was such a big deal at first, but now I am applauding the young lady for her courage and strength of conviction.
--I'm sure the N. Americans who lived here would have been consoled by the white men stealing their land because:
A. It was okay to do in the 1600s and 1700s, but would not be okay in the 21st century.
B. Other nations were founded by a hostile take-over.
I'm sure both made the genocide of their people acceptable.
Nope, not acceptable.. but it's over.
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Secondly, this thread was about some woman protesting at the Statue of Liberty. PDX and I referred to the poem that is etched into the statue. I know there is a law about whether or not you can climb the Statue of Liberty, but I'm sorry, in the Court of Vers' Law, that is not such a terrible crime.
She was protesting something she found unjust.
This country gained independence for similar acts and protests have helped improve conditions in our country for most of its life. Protests against child labor, unsafe working conditions, monopolies, racial inequality, gender inequality, misguided wars, etc, etc.
And folks who broke laws in the course of their protests were punished for it. In this instance, it's "not such a terrible crime" but it is a crime none-the-less..
How "just" a certain % of the population views your protest should have nothing to do with whether you are punished for breaking the law.... To do that gives the government discretion to determine which law breaking speech they should allow and which they should prosecute... I don't think any of us want to give them that discretion.
Or laws against non-violent protests are stupid and the same stuff that got MLK thrown in jail.
And also no, having laws regarding non-violent protests isn't stupid either.
Counterpoint: Laws regarding non-violent protests are mainly about keeping non-violent protests away from busy parts of the city.
The goal of a non-violent protest is to disrupt the daily life of citizens and make them consider the topic at hand. Protest laws are about corralling protesters.
Or laws against non-violent protests are stupid and the same stuff that got MLK thrown in jail.
And also no, having laws regarding non-violent protests isn't stupid either.
Counterpoint: Laws regarding non-violent protests are mainly about keeping non-violent protests away from busy parts of the city.
The goal of a non-violent protest is to disrupt the daily life of citizens and make them consider the topic at hand. Protest laws are about corralling protesters.
All true.. which is why if you want to have a really effective non-violent protest, you must exercise civil disobedience.. you just have to accept that there may be a price to be paid..
They are also to keep some semblance of order in cities like NY and DC, which would be shut down constantly if there were no non-violent protest laws..
Plus, if your non-violent protest isn't acting outside of the law at least a little bit, then it's not edgy and sexy and cool.. and all of those people who aren't really convicted to the cause, they just want to appear to be progressive, edgy, and cool wouldn't show up.
DC, I actually think you are one of the most reasonable posters on this forum. So, I am not attacking you, but man, you have completely ignored what is written on the Statue of Liberty. You refuse to acknowledge how many productive changes have been made to not only our laws but our social conscious due to people protesting.
You keep talking about "laws" and how the past doesn't matter.
Frankly, I am surprised by your position on this issue.
but man, you have completely ignored what is written on the Statue of Liberty.
No, I haven't. It's a lovely sentiment and one that we should continue to try to live into.. but it's not a law, it's not any part of our official doctrine... It's a poem written by a Jewish woman in the late 1800s..
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You refuse to acknowledge how many productive changes have been made to not only our laws but our social conscious due to people protesting.
I absolutely do not.. to the contrary I applaud most of them for being willing to put themselves at risk.. My daughter wrote a paper on the Greensboro sit in a couple years ago for school and asked me if I knew much about it. I told her I knew what it was but honestly didn't know a lot of details... I could have just helped her write the paper with internet research, instead that Saturday, we got in the car and drove to Greensboro to visit the Civil Rights Museum that now occupies the Woolworths where it happened.
So my point is not to diminish the value of protests but to enhance it.. if there are no laws to regulate it, if folks are allowed to willy nilly protest whenever and wherever they want, causing disruption and chaos as they see fit, without fear of repercussion or accountability.. then to "protest" will lose all meaning... for a protest to have any meaning or impact at all, those protesting have to be risking something.. thankfully it is no longer lynching and fire hoses, it's just simple detention and maybe some misdemeanor charge.. but it's still something.
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You keep talking about "laws" and how the past doesn't matter.
I never said the past doesn't matter either.. I've said there is nothing we can do to change it.. that we need to learn from it.. that we need to constantly try to be better..
Vers, I'm all for changing our immigration laws.. I think our immigration laws should be weighted in favor of those who NEED to come here over those who just want to... I'm all for coming up with an expedited process and one that is affordable for the most in need..
At the same time, we still need to be a nation of laws, laws that are fair and laws that are enforced if broken, and laws that are upheld by all Americans without the caveat for any particular city or state to defy them..
Now, if you would like to talk about how those laws might work and what is a fair punishment for anybody who breaks them, then let's do that.
