Liberty Island has been evacuated after a woman was spotted trying to climb the Statue of Liberty and others unfurled an ‘Abolish ICE’ banner below.

The evacuations occurred as a precaution after the woman reached Lady Liberty’s mid-section, US Park Police public information officer Sgt. Dave Somma told NBC 4.

The woman’s reasons for climbing the statue are not yet clear, but the protesters below have said she is not with them. 

Liberty island has been evacuated after a woman (bottom left) climbed up on to the Statue of Liberty

Liberty island has been evacuated after a woman (bottom left) climbed up on to the Statue of Liberty

The woman was seen pacing underneath the statue’s sandal before appearing to unfurl a banner of her own, CNN reported. 

Some law Enforcement officials were seen preparing to climb up to the base of the statue and confront the woman, while the NYPD began building a rope rescue system. 

A source told the broadcaster the system is being constructed because officers do not believe she’ll come down of her own volition.  

Earlier in the day, seven protesters were arrested by the United States Park Police after unfurling their ‘Abolish ICE’ banner.

They will be charged with unlawful protest. 

‘Abolish ICE’ was seen written on t-shirts and on a sign unfurled at the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday

Activist group Rise and Resist were behind the banner, and a press release say their actions are a carry on from Saturday’s nationwide End Family Separation protests. 

‘An ABOLISH ICE banner was hung from the statue, and activists spelled out the same message on their shirts. 

‘Dozens of tourists cheered on the activists, and the protest was broadcast via live stream over social media,’ they said. 

‘ICE has proved to be a threat to our liberty and way of life, and should be abolished,’ said Leon Kirschner, Rise and Resist member. 

‘They go after the most vulnerable among us, acting without due process to detain people. For-profit companies are making money off family separation. This has to stop now.’

 



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