Following a national day of action for immigration reform this weekend, several thousand demonstrators gathered in the nation’s capital on Tuesday with the goal of putting pressure on Congress to take action on immigration reform. 

Eight lawmakers were arrested at Tuesday’s rally on the National Mall: Reps. Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Al Green (D-Texas), Luis V. Gutierrez (D-Ill.),  Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and John Lewis (D-Ga.).  All eight blocked traffic in an act of civil disobedience, and were detained by law enforcement along with at least 200 other demonstrators.

Rep. John Lewis, who was an influential leader during the Civil Rights Movement, said via Twitter that this was his 45th arrest.

Arrest number 45, protesting in support of comprehensive immigration reform pic.twitter.com/b6ngK1LJxM

— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) October 8, 2013

The rally was allowed to go on despite the National Mall being closed due to the ongoing government shutdown, which makes passing an immigration reform bill this year seem increasingly unlikely.  But Tuesday’s rally seems to indicate that advocates and lawmakers alike are not giving up the struggle.