Pussy Riot Grabs Trump Tower

Trump Tower in New York City was visited by Russians Oct. 23 in the form of punk collective Pussy Riot, whose members unfurled a banner inside the building demanding the release of imprisoned Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov.

Facebook.com/pussyrrriot – Pussy Riot Protest
Members of Pussy Riot hang protest banner at Trump Tower

Photos and video from the “slightly occupied” Trump Tower were posted on Pussy Riot’s social media accounts showing three women wearing balaclavas – similar to ski masks – unfurling the banner on what appears to be a mezzanine level inside the pre-White House home of President Donald Trump.

Sentsov was convicted of conspiracy to commit terror attacks by a Russian military court in 2015 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Three Pussy Riot members, including Alekhina, were sentenced in 2012 to two years in prison for a protest concert inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Alekhina is currently touring a play telling the stories of three imprisoned artists, including Sentsov.

On its Facebook account, Pussy Riot posted video and text explaining their action.

“We remember when we were imprisoned, we received news about hundreds of activists around the world putting on balaclavas and going to the streets to support us…,” the band wrote.

“We came to occupy Trump Tower to call attention to political prisoners. We believe that political prisoners and their protection are more important than the sexist bullshit that people have been focused on … We are acting in solidarity against leaders like Putin, who has exercised authoritarian force and Trump, who is displaying authoritarian tendencies – because we all need to be fighting together on behalf of dissidents everywhere.”