Politics & Government
Lewis-Led House of Representatives Sit-in Ends
Civil rights icon and longtime Atlanta congressman is an organizer of House Democrats' effort to force gun control vote.
This is not over. We have more work to do. Keep the faith and keep your eyes on the prize. #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/foDbRgoUnO
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 23, 2016
Washington, D.C. — A House floor sit-in led by U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta ended early Thursday afternoon.
Congressional Democrats were attempting to force a vote on gun legislation.
We must never ever give up or give in. We must keep the faith. We must come back here on July 5 more determined than ever before.
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 23, 2016
We got in trouble. We got in the way. Good trouble. Necessary Trouble. By sitting-in, we were really standing up. #NoBillNoBreak
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 23, 2016
.@SpeakerRyan, we will not leave without acting for the victims & families of reckless gun violence. #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/eTB1WMATMd
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 23, 2016
Democrats in Congress had withering remarks for Paul Ryan after the House Speaker and leader of Congress' GOP majority foiled their 15-hour "sit-in" attempt to force a vote on certain gun regulations.
Find out what's happening in Atlantafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The protest, led by Lewis and Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, started around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and effectively ended around 3 a.m. Thursday with no gun control vote in sight.
Close to 3 a.m., Ryan held a vote on a federal emergency funding measure to combat Zika virus with no debate, sparking chaos in the House. He then enacted a parliamentary procedure to recess Congress until July 5. He called Democrats' actions a "publicity stunt" while Democrats chanted "shame!" and pushed toward the Speaker's podiums holding papers bearing names of those lost to gun violence.
Find out what's happening in Atlantafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
By refusing to bow to Democrats' demands, Ryan and his fellow Republicans must now "answer to their constituents," Clark said in a late-night Tweet following the Zika vote.
"Please keep up the pressure by calling, emailing, engaging on social media to demand votes on gun violence," she tweeted. "We will keep up the pressure too, and demand votes to keep American families safe from gun violence."
Republicans seem no closer to taking a vote on the bill. Democrats promise their efforts aren't over.
Early Wednesday afternoon, President Obama thanked Lewis for his role in the sit-in:
Thank you John Lewis for leading on gun violence where we need it most. https://t.co/vctfqAH5Wt
— President Obama (@POTUS) June 22, 2016
Lewis responded with this:
@POTUS Thank you, Mr. President. I'm just trying to help out and make a contribution.
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
Image: U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty
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