Joining w/ @repjohnlewis &dozens of my colleagues for House sit-in for a vote to prevent gun violence #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/Lg4cM9Gzj0
— Elizabeth Esty (@RepEsty) June 22, 2016
On Wednesday at noon, Democratic representatives began a sit-in in opposition of the GOP's refusal to vote on gun control. The cameras and mics had been turned off (CSPAN cameras in the House are under Republican control) but many of the representatives took to their Twitter accounts to let the outside world know what was going on. According to Politico, Representative John Lewis of Georgia was leading the group of Democrats as they pledged to "occupy" the floor.
“We have been too quiet for too long,” Lewis said. “There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.”
Lewis and other Democrats took up the area of the floor in front of the House podium and began to read the names of those murdered on June 12 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. They chanted "No bill, no break" as the House had been called in to recess.
My colleagues & I have had enough. We are sitting-in on the House Floor until we get a vote to address gun violence. https://t.co/rTqrPifuUz
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
On the floor now, @HouseGOP determined to silence @HouseDemocrats demanding action on #gunviolence. We will not be silenced! #NoBillNoBreak
— Rep. Norma Torres (@NormaJTorres) June 22, 2016
URGENT:
— leah mcelrath (@leahmcelrath) June 22, 2016
Call @SpeakerRyan's office and DEMAND @cspan be allowed to broadcast the gun control sit-in: pic.twitter.com/yZnUAPeFrA
Update (6/22 11:06 EST): House Democrats are continuing to sit-in on the floor of Congress to demand a vote on gun control legislation. C-SPAN is airing footage from House members' Periscope and Facebook feeds. Watch the #NoBillNoBreak sit-in live here.