Congressman John Lewis adds arrest no. 45 - at least - to rap sheet

• Office of Congressman John Lewis
• Congressman John Lewis, D-Atlanta, gets escorted in handcuffs by police outside the Capitol

U.S. Rep. john Lewis, D-Atlanta, and seven other Democratic congressman were arrested today outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., during an immigration protest.

According to Lewis’ office, the civil rights icon was arrested at approximately 4:15 p.m. Buzzfeed reports that Lewis and fellow Congressmen Joe Crowley, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Jan Schakowsky, Keith Ellison, Al Green, Charlie Rangel joined more than 100 activists and started a “peaceful sit-in blocking a street in the front of the Capitol.” The protest was part of the Camino Americano Rally for Immigrant Dignity and Respect, an effort to restart immigration reform in Congress.

Lewis has been placed in handcuffs “at least” 45 times, his spokeswoman says. He was arrested more than 40 times during the Civil Rights Movement. Since serving in Congress, he’s been arrested five times.

“He was arrested twice at the South African embassy protesting apartheid, twice at the Embassy of the Sudan protesting genocide in Darfur and today he was arrested to demand dignity and respect for immigrants,” his office said.