Rep. Clarke Planning to Be Arrested in Immigration Protest
It looks like Rep. Yvette Clarke is about to become the second Democratic lawmaker to get arrested this month in a civil disobedience protest aimed at pressuring the White House and Congress to pass immigration reform.
On Monday at noon, the New York Democrat will risk arrest by joining local leaders in Manhattan for a round of civil disobedience designed to highlight the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
Protesters will also urge President Barack Obama to halt deportations and intervene in Arizona’s tough new law that requires local law enforcement to question people about their immigration status if they suspect they may be in the country illegally.
Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) was arrested outside of the White House on May 1 as part of a similar civil disobedience action. Donning a T-shirt that read, “Arrest me, not my friends,” Gutierrez was taken away by police after sitting down on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House and refusing to move when asked to by U.S. Park Police. Two dozen other community leaders were also arrested.