Eight members of Congress were among those arrested Tuesday evening in the culmination of a rally for immigration reform outside Congress.
The Congressmen were among approximately 200 protesters who were charged with “crowding, obstructing and incommoding” by refusing to leave when ordered by the Capitol Hill police. About 200 other protests were arrested alongside the representatives.
The rally, attended by thousands, was the “exclamation mark” to events in more than 100 cities around the country on Saturday designed to put pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The organizers, an immigration coalition called Camino Americano, hope that with enough pressure, immigration reform can be passed by the new year. Some experts say support for immigration reform has never been higher by they remain doubtful of the chances of passage by year’s end.
The renewed push comes after immigration reform efforts stalled over the summer after the House failed to pass a Senate-approved plan. The issue has now become overshadowed by the government shutdown and debt limit showdown.
Tuesday’s rally took place on the National Mall even though it is closed due to the government shutdown. But the National Park Service allowed rally under the First Amendment and the right to protest.
The arrested congressmen, Rep. Keith Ellison D-Minn., Rep. John Lewis D-Ga., Rep. Raul Grijalva D-Ariz., Rep. Joseph Crowley D-N.Y., Rep. Al Green D-Texas, Rep. Luis Gutierrez D-Ill., Rep. Jan Schawkowsky D-Ill. and Rep. Charlie Rangel D-N.Y., have been released.