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Statue of Liberty climber awaits court appearance

NEW YORK — Authorities say a Fourth of July protester who held police at bay for hours after she climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty, causing an evacuation, will face a judge in New York.
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(Public domain image.)

NEW YORK — Authorities say a Fourth of July protester who held police at bay for hours after she climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty, causing an evacuation, will face a judge in New York.

A federal official says the woman told police she was protesting the separation of immigrant children from parents who cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally.

A court appearance is expected sometime Thursday.

The official identifies the woman as Therese Okoumou. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss it and spoke on the condition of anonymity. A message left at a possible phone number for the defendant hasn’t been returned.

A group that organized a protest at the statue earlier Wednesday says she also took part in unfurling a banner at the statue’s pedestal.

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Associated Press Writer Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

The Associated Press