Oct 09, 2013 03:16 PM EDT
House Democrats Arrested After Participating in Sit-in for Immigration Reform

Several member of Congress were arrested after participating in an immigration "sit-in" on Capital Hill on Wednesday demanding that House Republicans act to pass immigration reform, which stalled after passing the Senate. 

Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), Al Green (D-Texas), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) and Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) participated in the protest and were among lawmakers arrested by the Capitol Police for blocking a street near the Capital.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the police said they would be charged with "crowding, obstructing and incommoding," which is conisderded a misdemeanor.

"My colleagues and I are not afraid to get arrested for what we believe is important to move forward," Rangel said in a video posted to his Twitter account.

More than 200 people were arrested in total, including faith leaders, members of advocacy groups and other activists, the Washington Post reported.

"We strongly believe we could get the majority between Democrats and some Republicans to pass immigration reform," said Maria Elena Durazo, head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, who was also arrested.  

Demonstrators marched to the Capitol after a rally on the National Mall, which was allowed due to the First Amendment, despite the current government shutdown, which closed all national parks. Media outlets reported that many stood and sat in the street, in what organizers called a campaign of civil disobedience.

Advocates held signs reading "Unite" and "Keep Families Together, Immigrants Reform Now." The LA Times reported that three young boys wore shirts bearing the words, "Don't Deport my DAD."

The White House applauded what it called the "enthusiastic demonstration of support for immigration reform."

"It is time for House Republicans to put politics aside and join Democrats to fix our broken immigration system and make the economy stronger," a statement from Jay Carney, the White House press secretary said.

Representatives are calling on Congress to continue pushing the immigration legislation forward. The Senate passed a bill that includes heavier security around the border.

According to the Washington Post, House Democrats unveiled a plan with a path to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. But it's unclear if the GOP-led House will ever pass legislation.

The protest came after more than 160 rallies for immigration reform were held across the country on Saturday, and slightly less than a week after House Democrats introduced their own immigration bill based on two pieces of bipartisan legislation: one from the Senate and one approved by the House Homeland Security Committee.

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