Politico
By Seung Min Kim
August 28, 2014
More
than 140 immigration activists were arrested in front of the White
House on Thursday as they loudly protested President Barack Obama over
deportations of undocumented
immigrants.
The
scores of arrests, which come as Obama is preparing to unveil changes
to his deportation and immigration policies, amounted to one of the
largest shows of civil disobedience
at the White House over immigration.
“Today,
on this national day to fight for families, we call on President Obama
to do everything in his power to enact humane and compassionate
administrative relief that
will end our suffering,” said Gustavo Torres, executive director of
CASA de Maryland, a Latino advocacy group that organized Thursday’s
demonstration.
The
midday demonstration began at the headquarters of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement in southwest Washington, where the hundreds gathered
to chant: “Si se puede!”
and “Not one more!” and children wore T-shirts that pleaded: “Don’t
Deport My Mom.”
The
activists then walked on streets that had been blocked off by police to
the White House — about a mile and a half from ICE’s offices — with the
protesters leading
the march hauling a banner that read: “Pres. Obama Stop Deporting.”
When
they reached 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue — still chanting — the large
group of activists blocked a significant portion of the sidewalk in
front of the White House as
they continued to protest, prompting the arrests.
The
U.S. Park Police said in a statement that 145 people were arrested and
charged with blocking passage — a citation that carries a $50 fine. The
protesters were being
processed at the Park Police facility in Anacostia Park, and the
sidewalk in front of the White House reopened around 3:15 p.m.
Obama
is expected to make highly-anticipated administrative moves on
immigration sometime in September. Activists are calling on Obama to
provide the broadest executive
action possible, such as expanding a program that shields young
undocumented immigrants from deportations to millions more who are
living here without legal status.
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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