Police Reach Woman Who Climbed Statue Of Liberty
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NEW YORK — Liberty Island in New York Harbor was evacuated Wednesday after a woman climbed onto the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. After about three hours, two police officers eventually reached the woman and helped her down.
U.S. Park Police and the NYPD had been on the pedestal attempting to make contact with the woman. Park officials first responded around 4:10 p.m., reports CBS New York.
Sgt. David Somma of the U.S. Park Police told CBS News that officials didn't consider her a direct threat, but said her climbing the statue was a "threat to public safety." The woman, who was alone, had given "no indication" of why she was climbing the statue, Somma said.
National Park Service spokesperson Jerry Willis said people on Liberty Island were taken to neighboring Ellis Island, Battery Park in New York City or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
At first, the woman kept changing locations and so officers not able to communicate with her, Somma said.
Earlier in the day, at least six people who hung a banner emblazoned with a message about abolishing the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency from the statue's pedestal were arrested. The sign read, "Abolish I.C.E."
ICE is a division of the Department of Homeland Security whose officers arrest and deport unauthorized immigrants inside the U.S., among other duties.
Rise and Resist is at the Statue of Liberty demanding Trump and the GOP #AbolishICE, reunite families now, halt deportations, and end detention as a deterrent. #EndFamilySeparation #AbolishCBP #FreeOurFuture #HereToStay pic.twitter.com/panS03KTFe
— Rise and Resist (@riseandresistny) July 4, 2018
The ICE protest ended earlier, and the group Rise and Resist said on Twitter that the woman who climbed onto the pedestal was not linked to them.
Rise and Resist planned a banner drop today at the Statue of Liberty. This action did not include the climber on the statue. Our action was completed earlier. While it was not part of our action, our first priority and concern is for the safety of the climber.
— Rise and Resist (@riseandresistny) July 4, 2018
Activists with the group say they hung the banner to protest U.S. immigration policy. They oppose President Trump's administration and advocate ending deportations and family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said the president's immigration policy is a step forward for public safety.
Willis says federal code of regulations prohibits hanging banners from the monument.
(TM and © Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
