Civil Rights Era hero Rep. John Lewis of Georgia instigated a new sit-in, this time in the well of the House of Representatives in an attempt to force a vote on gun violence control legislation.
After Lewis gave that stirring speech, “dozens of Democrats” sat down and refused to budge. Speaker Ryan soon told CSPAN to turn off their cameras and ordered the House gaveled into recess.
A spokeswoman for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said that the chamber would be in recess as long as Democrats held up normal legislative business.
“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 spokeswoman AshLee Strong tweeted.
Democrats indicated that they will continue the sit-in until GOP leaders allow a vote on gun legislation.
You can follow the saga at the Twitter hashtag #nobillnobreak. It’s a tag Nancy Pelosi used yesterday in what now looks like a warning.
.@SpeakerRyan, we must not to recess until we vote on commonsense gun legislation. #NoBillNoBreak https://t.co/TtbBKX5aKG
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) June 21, 2016
And here’s how it looks, since you can’t see it on CSPAN.
You won't see us on CSPAN but we are still here. #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/44HOBT25WQ
— Janice Hahn (@Rep_JaniceHahn) June 22, 2016
I guess it’s the Republicans’ move now. I’m not sure what they’ll do.