House Democrats demanding a vote on gun control legislation vow to continue their sit-in on the House floor "as long as it takes to get action," Rep. Dan Kildee said Wednesday after about three hours into protest. "We don't have any plans to stop."
Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat, led the protest on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives demanding a vote on "common sense" gun control legislation Wednesday morning. Lewis, who led sit-ins as a leader of the U.S. civil rights movement in the 1960s, cited mass shootings at Sandy Hook and in Orlando in a plea for a vote.
About two dozen other Democratic members of congress joined him around the well of the House and then sat with him on the floor in the aisles. This began before the actual session started, but continued as it was gaveled to order. A recess was quickly called and C-Span cameras were turned off by the Republican leadership.
Although C-Span was dark, some members used smartphones to send live video to the world via social media, including Twitter's Periscope through their @HouseDemocrats Twitter account.
Democratic leaders also held a news conference to explain their plans and demands.
