enoughtohold:

“When they go low, we go high, and I went as high as I could”: “Lady of Liberty” Therese Patricia Okoumou speaks out

Okoumou, a naturalized citizen, was released on her own recognizance today, July 5, after being arrested yesterday for climbing to the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Her attorney, Rhiya Trivedi, is representing her pro bono. She will be back in court August 3.

Here is Okoumou’s full statement:

Good afternoon everyone, thank you for being here. It’s been a rough 24 hours for me and some of you. I wanna thank Rise and Resist [crowd cheering] for their dedication in the work that they do, for their support for equality and social justice.

As you know by now I am from the Republic of Congo. I came in this country 1994.

I also wanna thank the United States Park Police, more specifically Officer D’Alessandro, they’ve been very very wonderful to me. Talking about respect, courtesy, professionalism, I think the NYPD can learn something or two from them, from the United States Park Police.

Michelle Obama, our beloved First Lady that I care so much about, said “When they go low, we go high,” and I went as high as I could. [laughter and cheers]

Trump has wrecked this country apart. It is depressing, it is outrageous. I can say a lot of things about this monster, but I will stop at this: His draconian zero-tolerance policy on immigration has to go. In a democracy we do not rip children — we do not put children in cages. Period. There is no debating it. Nothing you can say to me will justify putting children in cages. Only a stupid unintelligent coward, an insecure — I will add a maniac — will rip a tender-age child from its mother. Reunite the children now. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen.

It seems that Okoumou is not in need of donations for now, and there are no official funding campaigns set up for her now, but if that changes I will post that information as soon as possible. You can also follow Rise and Resist on Twitter for more updates.