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(Image source: Twitter / @repjohnlewis)
BY CHRISTIAN BRYANT
While lawmakers at the capitol continue sparring over America's budget, D.C. police arrested
Democratic members of Congress and other protesters at an immigration rally on the National Mall
Tuesday.
"Rep. Charlie Rangel was one of the first to be arrested by U.S. Capitol police, along
with Reps. John Lewis, Luis Gutierrez and Keith Ellison." (Via WUSA)
National Journal's Elahe Izadi reported Reps. Joseph Crowley and Al Green were also arrested.
Izadi posted to her Twitter account that the lawmakers planned on being arrested at the
demonstration.
BuzzFeed reports a number of organizations hosted the rally — titled "Camino Americano"
— "to bring pressure on Congress to kick start dormant negotiations on a comprehensive
immigration reform package."
According to The Washington Post, the rally and arrests are meant to bring attention back
to an immigration bill that's been stuck in the House since the summer.
"[The bill's] prospects have dwindled as lawmakers are preoccupied with the government shutdown
and budget talks. ... [Immigration advocates] fear momentum has stalled since June when
the Senate approved a sweeping, bipartisan plan that features a 13-year path to citizenship
for most of the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants."
Surprisingly enough, Tuesday marked just the latest in a long line of arrests for Rep.
Lewis.
Lewis' staff reportedly released a statement noting this arrest was the 45th for the longtime
Representative from Georgia. The 73-year-old Lewis has been arrested five times since becoming
a member of Congress. (Via McClatchy)
National Journal cites an aide who said the arrested lawmakers will each need to pay a
$50 fine for civil disobedience. An Ethics Committee report will also likely follow.