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Therese Patricia Okoumou

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Okoumou at 48th Heritage of Pride Parade March in New York City, NY on June 24, 2018.

Therese Patricia Okoumou, commonly known as Patricia Okoumou, is a Black activist, most known for scaling the base of the Statue of Liberty in protest of children being separated from their parents at the Mexico-United States border in 2018.[1] She was credited by Hawk Newsome as "the most prominent Black voice in this immigrant rights movement right now."[2]

Early life

Okoumou was born in the Republic of the Congo. As a child, she and her peers climbed structures in Brazzaville where she lived. Her father worked as a pilot for then-Republic of the Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso.[3] In 1993, when Okoumou was a young adult, civil war occurred in her home, exposing her to violence, and prompting her move to the United States. During her first years in the US, she worked as a physical therapist, personal trainer, and staffer in a domestic violence shelter.[4] She has stated of her reasoning for moving to the US, "I had that false notion of diversity and inclusiveness."[3]

Demonstrations

On November 21, 2016, Okoumou protested Donald Trump's election for hours by herself outside of Trump Tower, leading to Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks interviewing her.[5]

On July 4, 2018, Okoumou climbed the Statue of Liberty to protest the Trump administration's family separation policy. Okoumou scaled the statue after participating in a protest with Rise and Resist New York. She decided to climb as an impulse after being told to by God, in protest of 2,300 children being "separated from their families over a six-week period in April and May" of 2018.[6][7] She stayed on the base of the statue for four hours, during which 4,500 Ellis Island visitors were evacuated.[8] Okoumou was defended by Rhiya Trivedi in court. In 2019, Okoumou was given 5 years probation and 200 hours of community service for charges of trespassing, interference with agency functions, and disorderly conduct.[2]

On November 29, 2018, Okoumou climbed halfway up the Eiffel Tower and displayed a banner that read "#ReturnTheChildren", before being removed by police.[9] She chose the tower due to its connection to the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France to the United States as a symbol of liberty.[3][10]

In January 2019, Okoumou began a ten-day journey across detention camps in Texas where she and other activists visited undocumented children and offered Valentine's Day cards.[3][11]

On February 20, 2019, Okoumou climbed the headquarters of Southwest Key, an organization which operates 24 migrant detention centers that hold children. She hung a banner that read, "Abolish ICE" and stayed on a three-foot beam on top of the building for over eight hours, before climbing down and going to the hospital to be evaluated.[12][13]

References

  1. ^ Aggeler, Madeleine (July 5, 2018). "Statue of Liberty Climber: 'In a Democracy, We Do Not Put Children in Cages'". The Cut. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  2. ^ a b Branigin, Anne (March 19, 2019). "'Lady Liberty' Patricia Okoumou Will Not Go to Prison for July 4th Protest". The Root. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Henery, Celeste (March 18, 2019). "Therese Patricia Okoumou: Black Women's Bodies and Public Protest". African American Intellectual History Society. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  4. ^ White, Avery (March 18, 2019). "Statue Of Liberty Climber Patricia Okoumou: 'Walls Will Not Stop Me'". Gothamist. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  5. ^ Uygur, Cenk (October 21, 2016). Trump Towers Protestor Interview. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Quackenbush, Casey (July 5, 2018). "Woman Who Climbed the Statue of Liberty in Custody". Time. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Aguilera, Jasmine (July 2, 2019). "This Woman Climbed the Statue of Liberty to Protest Family Separation. One Year Later, She's Wondering What's Really Changed". Time. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Michael Love Michael (July 4, 2019). "The Woman Who Climbed the Statue of Liberty". Paper Mag. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Walters, Joanna (December 13, 2018). "'I must continue': Statue of Liberty climber still protesting despite facing prison". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Shenoy, Rupa (2019). "Statue of Liberty climber says she's not done protesting 'white supremacy'". PRX The World. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Michael, Michael Love (2019). "The Woman Who Climbed the Statue of Liberty Needs Your Help". Paper Magazine. Archived from the original on June 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Solomon, Dan (February 20, 2019). "Therese Patricia Okoumou, Who Climbed the Statue of Liberty Last Fourth of July, has Climbed Austin's Southwest Key Headquarters to Protest Family Separation". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
  13. ^ "Woman climbs building in East Austin to protest against child immigrant detentions". CBS Austin. February 20, 2019. Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
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