Austin

Woman climbs Southwest Key building in east Austin in protest

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A woman who previously climbed the Statue of Liberty to protest immigration policies has set her sights on an east Austin building for a similar demonstration.

Therese Patricia Okoumou was live streaming as she climbed the Southwest Key building at 6002 Jain Lane. 

Police officers and firefighters have surrounded the building above and below her. 

According to Lt. Frank Rodriguez, of the Austin Police Department, the first priority of responders is bring Okoumou down safely. Negotiators are talking to the woman, explaining to her that her mission is accomplished and her message is out. Rodriguez reported that they will not be using force to remove her from the building, as she could slip and fall.

Okoumou is allegedly yelling "Free the Children," as she scales the building with a backpack containing unknown contents. 

In December, Okoumou was found guilty of trespassing and other charges after climbing 150 feet to the feet of the Statue of Liberty in New York City on July 4, according to the NBC affiliate there.  Rodriguez confirmed that for this offense, she would face criminal trespassing charges. 

Southwest Key, an Austin-based nonprofit, faced criticism last July of its facilities housing undocumented immigrant minors separated from their families. 

Woman Scales East Austin Building In Immigration Protest

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EAST AUSTIN, TEXAS — A woman protesting the Trump administration's zero-tolerance immigration policy marked by the separation of migrant children from their parents has scaled an East Austin building as part of her demonstration.

The woman's protest began at noon. As of 4 p.m., the woman was able to scale to the top of the six-story Southwest Key building without the benefit of a harness or climbing gear. The Austin-based nonprofit Southwest Key operates immigration detention centers used to house the children separated from their mothers upon their entry into the U.S., a policy implemented by Donald Trump.

In an earlier tweet, officials associated with the protester identified the woman as Therese Patricia Okoumou of New Jersey. Yet the advance notice of the woman's protest via Tweet didn't specify what form her demonstration would take: "Therese Patricia Okoumou is risking arrest at an Austin,Texas children’s immigration detention center," the post read. Accompanying hashtags to the missive were #BorderWall #USA

"Free the children! Let them go!" the woman was heard chanting from the top of the building some 60 feet high.

Images broadcast live on local television news stations have shown nerve-wracking live feeds of the woman walking precariously along the building's ledge, supporting herself with her gloved hands alone as she negotiated along the building's edges. At other points, the woman was seen dangling from overhead beams.

The woman late afternoon on Wednesday was requesting water as police were trying to coax her down. Shortly after 4 p.m., Austin Fire Department crews on a "cherry picker" implement were dispatched to the scene in attempts to retrieve her before she eluded them by walking to another part of the building's uppermost area. Firefighters did confiscate her backpack that she left within their reach as she eluded them.

By late afternoon, the woman was balancing herself on beams located at the top of the building shrouded by a translucent netting-style architectural feature at the top of the building. One one side of that top portion were three firefighters on one side of that portion of the building and police officers on the other end, effectively corning the protester. Still, she remained elusive as she held on to beams at the center of that building section.

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Speak Out: Electric buses, Austin Berg

Some politicians want to replace all CTA buses with electric buses by 2040. I’m all for conservation of the environment but I hope they test drive the electric vehicles when it’s 20 degrees below zero. . . Think through technology before indiscriminate application. I am age 70 and still use paper income tax forms but have to jump through hoops to get them.

I find it hilarious how Democrats call President Donald Trump a dictator. The Democrats are becoming more like socialists. Socialism is all government run . . . So who is the dictator now?

Once again Austin Berg, of Illinois Policy Institute, has come up with another excellent article providing solutions to the state's ever-burgeoning economic woes. It's been mentioned by other concerned citizens, that the catalyst that will launch all the other solutions to the state's problems, would be the amendment of the state constitution, specifically pertaining to compensation/pension reform. Alas, not one of our representatives in Springfield has pursued this course seriously perhaps for fear of House Speaker Mike Madigan and fear of losing their own pension benefits. . . .

E, Oak Lawn

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