Just saw this on the news, I didn’t see a diary about it, so I have provided a link. Don’t have a whole lot to add. I am afraid of heights, so climbing onto Lady Liberty’s skirt would preclude me from making the climb. She is one brave person.
Here is the link to the local news story.
Resist, engage, vote, organize, and climb the Statue of Liberty. A birthday to remember.
The police have her, and currently at this moment are bringing the protester off. Word is she wanted to stay up there until all the stolen children were reunited with family. Well, that would of been a while. I will update again, once she is on the ground.
For those who think this was all a waste. I wanted to share the poem on the base of the Statue of Liberty. By Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “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-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Another great link with more info on the climber and her motivations.
Rise and Resist group protests at Liberty Island, woman climbs Liberty
So quite a few folks are pretty pissed at this woman. She ruined the 4th for so many people. How dare she force the folks off of Liberty Island. But the thing is, she didn’t. The Park Service, and the police decided to evacuate the entire Island because she may be a danger. Or there may be more climbers, it could be a terrorist, etc. So you see, this woman had nothing to do with the decision to kick tourists off the Island. It fits right into the narrative of dangerous people will wreck your holiday. Did they really need to do that, turn all the boats away, and kick all the rest off? That is all the news kept blaring away. “Tourists turned away from Liberty, their 4th of July ruined. She may be mentally ill, or a danger.” It’s all the black lady’s fault. Sound familiar?
In reality, it’s once again a way to divide us and promote infighting and hate. Hating the stranger who felt so passionate they climbed onto Lady Liberty to make a point. Unfortunately her point was lost because everyone was focused on the headline. “Thousands evacuated because of climber on Statue of Liberty” instead of the fact that this may be the first time someone was compelled to risk their life to make a point. She could of fallen off before she even started her action. Man, I am really disappointed that more folks don’t see through these manipulating news cycles. It’s truly stunning.
Well, that’s my opinion for what it’s worth. We can choose to disagree, but let us not lose focus. We must persist, we must resist, and sometimes it might be right, but not popular. These are tough choices, in a tough time. Never give in folks, fight, invite discourse, work hard, be an activist for change. Oh yeah, happy 4th too.