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| House Democrats stage sit-in protest to demand vote on gun control | House Democrats stage sit-in protest to demand vote on gun control |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Dozens of Democrats are staging an extraordinary sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to demand a vote on gun control measures that they insist will save lives. | Dozens of Democrats are staging an extraordinary sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to demand a vote on gun control measures that they insist will save lives. |
| The occupation is being led by veteran congressman John Lewis, who half a century ago took part in sit-ins and acts of disobedience during the struggle for civil rights. | The occupation is being led by veteran congressman John Lewis, who half a century ago took part in sit-ins and acts of disobedience during the struggle for civil rights. |
| Surrounded by colleagues, Lewis, 76, told the House: “We have been too quiet for too long. 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.” | Surrounded by colleagues, Lewis, 76, told the House: “We have been too quiet for too long. 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.” |
| He added: “How many more mothers? How many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something? Give us a vote. Let us vote. We came here to do our job. We came here to work.” | He added: “How many more mothers? How many more fathers need to shed tears of grief before we do something? Give us a vote. Let us vote. We came here to do our job. We came here to work.” |
| Related: The gun control 'terror gap': what is it – and why hasn't Congress fixed it? | Related: The gun control 'terror gap': what is it – and why hasn't Congress fixed it? |
| Shortly afterwards, Democratic members sat down in an area near the podium known as the well, some cross-legged on the floor, and began reading the names of the 49 people shot dead in an Orlando nightclub earlier this month. They also prayed and briefly sang We Shall Not Be Moved. | Shortly afterwards, Democratic members sat down in an area near the podium known as the well, some cross-legged on the floor, and began reading the names of the 49 people shot dead in an Orlando nightclub earlier this month. They also prayed and briefly sang We Shall Not Be Moved. |
| Exasperated Republicans were forced to call a recess while shutting off microphones and TV cameras, but coverage and photos of the protest spread fast on social media. Barack Obama’s Twitter account responded: “Thank you John Lewis for leading on gun violence where we need it most.” Hillary Clinton tweeted: “This is what real leadership looks like.” | Exasperated Republicans were forced to call a recess while shutting off microphones and TV cameras, but coverage and photos of the protest spread fast on social media. Barack Obama’s Twitter account responded: “Thank you John Lewis for leading on gun violence where we need it most.” Hillary Clinton tweeted: “This is what real leadership looks like.” |
| It was the latest sign that Democrats are prepared to push new boundaries in their long battle for tighter restrictions on firearms. Last week Senator Chris Murphy staged a near 15-hour filibuster to force votes in the Senate on gun legislation. The votes failed on Monday night. | It was the latest sign that Democrats are prepared to push new boundaries in their long battle for tighter restrictions on firearms. Last week Senator Chris Murphy staged a near 15-hour filibuster to force votes in the Senate on gun legislation. The votes failed on Monday night. |
| House Democrats are demanding a vote on measures to expand background checks and block gun purchases by individuals on the FBI’s terror watch list. “No bill, no break,” they shouted, demanding that the speaker, Paul Ryan, keep the House in session through its planned week-long recess next week to debate and vote on gun legislation. | |
| Lewis was beaten by police in the 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, and led sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Tennessee. The Georgia Democrat told MSNBC on Wednesday he was adopting the tactic again “just trying to get someone to sit down with us, negotiate about passing aggressive legislation to deal with gun violence. | Lewis was beaten by police in the 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, and led sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Tennessee. The Georgia Democrat told MSNBC on Wednesday he was adopting the tactic again “just trying to get someone to sit down with us, negotiate about passing aggressive legislation to deal with gun violence. |
| “It is out of the ordinary but sometimes you move on what I call the spirit of history to find a way to get in the way, to create the climate and environment to get something done.” | “It is out of the ordinary but sometimes you move on what I call the spirit of history to find a way to get in the way, to create the climate and environment to get something done.” |
| Lewis added: “If I can just help, along with my friends and my colleagues in the Congress and the American people, to move us down that road so we can get legislation passed to save lives.” | Lewis added: “If I can just help, along with my friends and my colleagues in the Congress and the American people, to move us down that road so we can get legislation passed to save lives.” |
| Judy Chu, a representative from California, told MSNBC: “When 49 people were murdered in Orlando and nothing done about it and the only response were moments of silence, well, so many of us said, enough is enough, we have to do something about this.” | Judy Chu, a representative from California, told MSNBC: “When 49 people were murdered in Orlando and nothing done about it and the only response were moments of silence, well, so many of us said, enough is enough, we have to do something about this.” |
| Both expressed gratitude to Senate Democrats for showing support and expressed hope that people would pressure the Senate to reconsider the legislation. | Both expressed gratitude to Senate Democrats for showing support and expressed hope that people would pressure the Senate to reconsider the legislation. |
| Murphy said: “John Lewis is a true hero. No one in Congress has done more throughout the course of their life to stand up for justice and righteousness. I’m proud of my Democratic colleagues in the House today. | Murphy said: “John Lewis is a true hero. No one in Congress has done more throughout the course of their life to stand up for justice and righteousness. I’m proud of my Democratic colleagues in the House today. |
| “We will not alter the way Congress responds to the mass slaughter of our constituents without ripping up the usual script and demanding change. We forced Senate Republicans to allow votes to keep guns away from dangerous people – the House should not go on vacation until Speaker Ryan and House Republicans do the same.” | “We will not alter the way Congress responds to the mass slaughter of our constituents without ripping up the usual script and demanding change. We forced Senate Republicans to allow votes to keep guns away from dangerous people – the House should not go on vacation until Speaker Ryan and House Republicans do the same.” |
| Democrats began their demonstration about half an hour before the House was due to go into session. Ted Poe, a Republican from Texas, tried to start business at noon. The customary prayer and pledge of allegiance went ahead, but Poe banged the gavel several times in vain and was forced to call a recess when Democrats refused to leave the well. | Democrats began their demonstration about half an hour before the House was due to go into session. Ted Poe, a Republican from Texas, tried to start business at noon. The customary prayer and pledge of allegiance went ahead, but Poe banged the gavel several times in vain and was forced to call a recess when Democrats refused to leave the well. |
| Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania shouted: “We’ve had it. We’re not going to watch any more people in this country get slaughtered and do nothing!” | Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania shouted: “We’ve had it. We’re not going to watch any more people in this country get slaughtered and do nothing!” |
| Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the number two House Democrat, said defiantly: “We will not be shut up. We will not be shut down.” | Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the number two House Democrat, said defiantly: “We will not be shut up. We will not be shut down.” |
| Democrats accused Republicans of political cowardice by failing to schedule a vote. “Are they more afraid than the children at Sandy Hook?” asked Mike Thompson of California, referring to the 2012 shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 elementary school children, in Newtown, Connecticut. “What is so scary about having a vote?” | Democrats accused Republicans of political cowardice by failing to schedule a vote. “Are they more afraid than the children at Sandy Hook?” asked Mike Thompson of California, referring to the 2012 shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 elementary school children, in Newtown, Connecticut. “What is so scary about having a vote?” |
| John Larson, a Democrat from Connecticut, cited polls showing broad public support for expanding background checks for firearms purchases and blocking suspected terrorists from buying guns. “Rise up Democrats, rise up Americans,” Larson said. “We will occupy this chamber.” | John Larson, a Democrat from Connecticut, cited polls showing broad public support for expanding background checks for firearms purchases and blocking suspected terrorists from buying guns. “Rise up Democrats, rise up Americans,” Larson said. “We will occupy this chamber.” |
| Republican leaders ordered the C-SPAN TV network’s cameras to be switched off but Larson said: “They can turn off all the TV they want, but they can’t stop us from doing what we know is the right thing here in this well.” | Republican leaders ordered the C-SPAN TV network’s cameras to be switched off but Larson said: “They can turn off all the TV they want, but they can’t stop us from doing what we know is the right thing here in this well.” |
| Ryan said on Wednesday that House leaders were “waiting to see what the Senate does before proceeding” on gun legislation, including a possible compromise being sought by moderate Republican senator Susan Collins of Maine. | Ryan said on Wednesday that House leaders were “waiting to see what the Senate does before proceeding” on gun legislation, including a possible compromise being sought by moderate Republican senator Susan Collins of Maine. |
| Ryan’s spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said: “The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution, so the House has recessed subject to the call of the chair.” | Ryan’s spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said: “The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution, so the House has recessed subject to the call of the chair.” |
| John Fleming, a Republican from Louisiana, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: “We don’t view the fact that someone becomes radicalised and decides to kill a bunch of Americans … as a gun problem. We view that as a terrorist problem.” | John Fleming, a Republican from Louisiana, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying: “We don’t view the fact that someone becomes radicalised and decides to kill a bunch of Americans … as a gun problem. We view that as a terrorist problem.” |
| There was little sign of the protest coming to an end. Maxine Waters of California said: “I am willing to stay here until hell freezes over. We’re here because we can’t take it any more … We can’t take burying our young people.” | There was little sign of the protest coming to an end. Maxine Waters of California said: “I am willing to stay here until hell freezes over. We’re here because we can’t take it any more … We can’t take burying our young people.” |