A woman was surrounded by police on Wednesday after she climbed the base of the Statue of Liberty.
Fourth of July plans? Word of advice, don’t try to climb the Statue of Liberty. @cnnbrk pic.twitter.com/LZrpT8WVSl
— Danny Owens (@HelloDannyOwens) July 4, 2018
The woman is believed to be a protester, according to multiple news outlets.
Seven people were arrested earlier in the day on Liberty Island as part of a protest by a group called Rise and Resist, BuzzFeed News reports. They were at one point brandishing a sign that read “Abolish ICE” at the statue’s base.
The climber is not affiliated with Rise and Resist, according to a tweet from the organization.
https://twitter.com/riseandresistny/status/1014604997860954112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.buzzfeed.com%2Fellievhall%2Fa-person-is-climbing-the-statue-of-liberty
The protest comes on the Fourth of July, America’s birthday, as protests have swirled around the country over President Donald Trump‘s treatment of immigrants.
On Twitter, people on the left cheered on the climber and other protesters.
A girl has climbed statue of liberty on to protest against I.C.E. Happy 4th of July 😁
— sidra khan (@sidrakhan70) July 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/PalmerReport/status/1014620209930366976
https://twitter.com/newyorknewart/status/1014617572728328192
Naturally, those on the right hated it.
https://twitter.com/ToddPiro/status/1014616494725062656
Hanging an Abolish Ice banner on the Statue of Liberty. My word these people are crazy! https://t.co/LIUDU07TrL
— Rampage Beeker (@RichBeeker) July 4, 2018
So the idiot on the Statue of Liberty thinks she is so special her rights to protest outweigh the rights of the hundreds of people who had planned to visit Lady Liberty on this day. Don't #AbolishICE
— Nιɳα (@NinaSaphir) July 4, 2018
The Statue of Liberty became a flashpoint when Trump advisor Stephen Miller—an immigration hardliner—claimed the Statue of Liberty didn’t support immigrants.