A woman in the crowd looks across the street. Credit: Photo by Sophia Nahli Allison

Dozens of immigration activists, elected officials, faith and labor leaders were arrested Wednesday evening for blocking Congress Parkway—the street outside an immigration building downtown Chicago.

The group resorted to this act of civil disobedience out of frustration over the lack of progress in passing immigration reform, organizers said. They demanded that House Republicans vote for immigration reform and that President Barack Obama put an end to deportations.

At the end of this act of civil disobedience, 142 people, including five Chicago aldermen and two county commissioners, were arrested.

A woman in the crowd looks across the street.
A child whose mother is facing deportation holds a signs of President Barack Obama, stating that 2 million deported families is too many. 
A woman named Karina, who lives in Elgin, Ill., talks about how she came to the United States when she was 14 years old and has been here for 18 years. She is now fa
A light-up signs reads, “stop deportations.”
Police wait nearby.
A woman in the crowd recites chants along with others attending the rally.
A mother holds her son close.
A demonstrator holds American Flags before the event starts.
Father Brendan Curran of St. Pius Church, address the crowd. “I want to remind you that this is a human toll,” he said. “The reason why we stand in courage is [that] we remember families are divided now and here.”
Picket signs are stacked against a wall.
A young boy helps hold a banner.
Tuyet Le of Advancing Justice Chicago addresses the crowd. “I am here to give voice to the 2 million Asian-Americans who want to be reunited with their families but are trapped in visa back laws, some waiting for 23 years,”  she said.
A man in the crowd carries a sign that reads “Do not separate our families.”
Protesters and police officers line the streets near the intersection of Congress Parkway and Clark Street.
A man uses his iPad to record the rally.
Protesters hold large banners.
Lawrence Benito of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights addresses the crowd. 
Police officers wait for the rally to begin. 
A woman joins in with the chants.
A man helps hold up one of the banners.
Chicago Ald. Danny Solis speaks to the crowd.
Protesters hold a huge sign above the crowd. 
Each corner was crowded with protesters.
A woman in the crowd looks across the street.
A sign reads, “2 million too many—stop the deportations now!”
A woman beats on a drum.
The intersection of Congress Parkway and Clark Street was shut down because of the rally.
A police officer looks over his shoulder at the crowd. 
Protesters hold up a banner waiting for the event to start.
The daughter of a woman facing deportation holds a sign. 
A woman stands in the crowd. 
People holding banners lined Congress Parkway
A police officer crosses the street as the event begins. 
Cars honked their horns as they drove by to show their support.