Patricia Okoumou is a woman of conscience who could not stand by and watch children being separated from their parents and caged at the U.S.-Mexico border.
First on July 4 she climbed the Statue of Liberty with her banner and was arrested. I wrote about that at the time, and you can read that here.
In an interview with Democracy Now! this month she explained that the slogans on her attire are a response to the current First Lady who wore a jacket that said: I REALLY DON'T CARE DO U. Also Okoumou said she was inspired by our former First Lady, Michelle Obama, who was often targeted by ugly racists and who responded, "When they go low, we go high."
Okoumou commented, "I went as high as I could."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12UC55fSREA
Subsequently Okoumou, an immigrant herself from the Republic of Congo, targeted Juan Sanchez, a billionaire who profits from child detention in Texas. On Valentine's Day she joined a group shouting out love to the children kept inside, and calling for their release. Then she climbed Southwest Key, a building owned and operated by Sanchez.
When Okoumou was interviewed by Paper magazine, reporter Michael Love Michael wrote that she said:
...the way conservative politicians talk about the family separation crisis is steeped in misleading and xenophobic rhetoric designed to keep people distracted. "You can't call human beings illegal; you can't call human beings aliens because our children are listening," she said. "Aliens come from outer space, and by calling our children that who want better lives, we are a detriment to them."
Most recently news that child separations and detentions were kept secret, that they generate profit for corporations like Northrup Gruman and Amazon, and that even infants have been separated from nursing mothers makes Okoumou's cause even more pressing for those who care what their government does in their name.
Today activists will pack the courtroom in NYC for Okoumou's bail hearing. A bad judge sentenced her to house arrest claiming that she engages in activism because it is the only way she has to make a living. Shame on him.
Those of us who can't be in court with Okoumou today can help by contributing to her defense fund and other expenses here: https://www.gofundme.com/PatriciaOkoumou.
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| Photo of an intact family protesting at City Hall in Los Angeles (source: Reuters) |
Patricia Okoumou hears the children crying for their parents. Do you? (Trigger warning: this recording of their voices could make you cry, too).
2 comments:
I really like and appreciate your post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
In order to be considered for asylum, a person must request such from the first sovereign nation that they can legally enter. It was not long ago that a force of people traveling through Middle America forced their way into Mexico and then in turn were offered asylum from that country. This group of people said "No, we are going to America." When seeking asylum, a person does not get to pick and choose which country they want to make such a request from. The laws the both political sides agreed to don't work that way. I am all for people who are willing and able to make a positive impact on our country Legally coming into our country. But I stand firm when I say that it must be done Legally, and all who enter illegally should be deported. Our members of Homeland Security and ICE are working a hard job and deserve our respect. Anything less is just shameful! Please fell free to email me at kabar1982195@hotmail.com if you'd like to talk more about this with me.
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