NEW YORK: Police arrested the woman who climbed the Statue of Liberty to protest the Trump administration’s immigration policies on Wednesday.

Scores of protesters joined in her protest call on a day when Americas celebrated their Independence Day.

Police evacuated Liberty Island of tourists after the woman, identified as Therese Patricia Okoumou, 44, of Staten Island, climbed to the base of the statue.

Ms Okoumou moved around waving a T-shirt flag in protest. The T-shirt read: ‘Rise and Resist’ and ‘Trump Care Makes Us Sick.’

“We’ve had two unusual events occur back to back,” National Park Service spokesman Jerry Willis told reporters . “So for the safety and security of our visitors, we decided to evacuate for the day.”

Later in the evening a spectacular fireworks display was held and the West Point Band played martial tunes, including the national anthem and “God Bless America.”

Agencies add: About 100 feet aboveground, the woman engaged in a four-hour standoff with police before two officers climbed up to the base and went over to her.

With the dramatic scene unfolding on live television, she and the officers edged carefully around the statue towards a ladder, and she climbed down about 25 feet to the monument’s observation point and was taken into custody.

The climber was among about 40 demonstrators who earlier unfurled a banner calling for abolishing the federal government’s chief immigration enforcement agency, said Jay W. Walker, an organiser with Rise and Resist, which arranged the demonstration.

Walker said the other demonstrators had no idea the woman would make the ascent, which wasn’t part of the planned protest.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2018