Now in its third hour, the Democrats Representatives of the U.S. House are engaging in an old tactic – a sit-in – in a historic move to force the GOP-controlled body to bring common sense gun bills to the floor for a vote.
Speaker Paul Ryan cut the CSPAN camera feed as the civil disobedience started. However, a few enterprising Democrats shared views via Periscope.
Here’s how it started. Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis delivered a passionate address to the body.
DEMs Rally Behind @Repjohnlewis‘
Sit-in Over GOP Negligence #NoBillNoBreak #NoFlyNoBuy https://t.co/ItqU5F58QX https://t.co/2luJ43S1KE— Wisdom Rocks (@GetWisdomDude) June 22, 2016
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) June 22, 2016
The sit-in commenced. Four hours later, and no CSPAN coverage permitted by Speaker Ryan, Periscope came to the rescue. This medium set-up a channel to follow this precedent setting, collective civil disobedience.
With official broadcasts suspended in the House, we’ve created a channel to follow #NoBillNoBreak on #Periscope live pic.twitter.com/1xM0QGqvzh
— Periscope TV (@periscopetv) June 22, 2016
The sit-in is now seven hours long.
All of the 75+ members of Congress (all Democrats) participating in today’s sit-in for gun control #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/vTem7oez3t
— Kira Lerner (@kira_lerner) June 22, 2016
House Speaker Ryan went on national TV and called it a “publicity stunt.”
National media organizations, those watchdogs who dare to enter the bloodied landscapes of foreign countries devastated by war, have lost all courage. Should Americans call on Reporters Without Borders to life th GOP-imposed blackout? Ponder that. Meanwhile…
