[View the story "Immigration reform activists arrested in DC" on Storify ]Immigration reform activists arrested in DC Immigrant rights leaders' arrests call attention to ongoing reform debate. Storified by AJAMStream · Thu, Aug 01 2013 14:47:03
Over 40 immigration rights activists and union leaders were
arrested this afternoon outside the Capitol for blocking city traffic during a protest demanding that the House of Representatives vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill that has already passed the Senate and earned the support of the White House.
The bill calls for a more modernized immigration system that combines enforcement with a clearer path to citizenship, especially for the estimated 11 million undocumented individuals living in the US. The House is now entering its five-week August recess. No legislative action on the bill will occur during that time.
Several people and organizations live tweeted the protest, uploading videos and pictures under hashtags such as
#TimeIsNow and
#immigration .
Immigration activists arrested on Capitol Hillplanevada
RT @NILC_org: Happening now: immigrants' rights leaders arrested during act of civil disobedience #timeisnow http://pic.twitter.com/vcIMrpJkFFJose Martinez-Diaz
"@AFLCIOLatino: RT @ri4a: Capitol police clearing the street. Civil disobedience begins. #timeisnow http://pic.twitter.com/VLdAyUGQMh" #fbVeronica Miranda
Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D) and Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva (D) joined the protesters but left before the arrests were made. The AFL-CIO shared this picture of the two representatives.
RT @janschakowsky: So proud to march with @LuisGutierrez @RepRaulGrijalva for #Immigration reform #TimeIsNow http://pic.twitter.com/QaM9pWAKhjAFL-CIO
Those arrested included Eliseo Medina, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), who issued
a statement :
Taking it to the streets MT @SEIU: As immigration leaders are being arrested, @SEIU_Eliseo takes his turn #TimeIsNow http://pic.twitter.com/3EGkYlJZRvMary Kay Henry
"We took this action because we cannot allow the House to waste time. The urgency of the situation is too great. People are dying in the desert as they try to cross the border from Mexico, thousands of immigrants have been deported and every day families are being torn apart. We need to fix the system and we need to fix it now.seiu.org
Social media response to the protest has been positive, although political site Twitchy saw it as just another day in D.C.
Just too bad this will likely not be the last time protesters try to shut down D.C. — or any city.twitchy.com
Ironically, observers believe the Republican-controlled House purposely chose to delay action on the immigration bill so that it has a better chance of passing.
But far from a failure of leadership, top House Republicans are casting the inaction as a tactical play designed to boost reform’s chances. Keeping immigration on the back-burner helps avoid a recess filled with angry town-hall meetings reminiscent of the heated August 2009 protests where the backlash against health care reform coalesced. Doing nothing also starves Democrats of a target, Republicans argue.nationaljournal.com
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