Fourteen people were arrested Tuesday afternoon after a sit-in protest in front of the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building in downtown Denver in support of comprehensive immigration reform.
At a time when the issue has been overshadowed by coverage of the British Petroleum oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, many activists are working to focus President Barack Obama and Congress on immigration.
Both the spill and immigration issues “represent the powerlessness of the individual to effect change in our society,” said Prior Kieran of St. Dunstan’s Priory in Aurora, an ecumenical order of Benedictines, who was led away in FlexiCuffs.
“This is an effort to call attention to both the wisdom and benefits of solidarity . . . I feel at this time in our country’s history we cannot afford to let causes such as this take the background.”
About 100 parents and children, faith leaders, immigrants and labor organizers marched from the state Capitol to the Federal Building.
All 14 people were charged with two misdemeanors: obstructing a road and failure to obey a lawful order.
Mateos Alvarez, political organizer for SEIU Local 105, was among those arrested.
“After all we’ve done, there’s been no action,” he said, referring to two major rallies for comprehensive immigration reform, including one in Denver on May 1 that drew about 10,000 people.
“So other organization(s) around the country have taken it upon themselves to do civil disobedience.”
Those in Denver who chose to get arrested did it “to bring awareness and to pass immigration reform this year,” he said, “not to bring shame to Denver.”
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
