Politics & Government
House Democrats Hold 'Sit In' to Demand Gun Control Vote
Obama thanks Atlanta congressman John Lewis for being an organizer of an effort to force a vote on gun control measures.
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta is one of the organizers of a Democratic "sit-in" protest Wednesday to demand a vote on gun legislation.
Last week Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy led a nearly 15-hour filibuster in an effort to get a vote on two primary legislative measures: universal background checks, or closing the “gun-show loophole,” and the prevention of suspected terrorists from buying firearms.
Ultimately Murphy forced a vote, but it didn't go the way he wanted. On Monday the senate voted mostly on party lines 53 to 47 against the bill, according to the Washington Post.
Murphy's filibuster was heavily-watched on C-SPAN. The network said Wednesday that it had no control over the cameras in the U.S. House. It broadcast the Morning Hour when Democrats first called for the sit-in.
Lewis has been tweeting throughout the day since the sit-in began:
We have to ask who we are as a people. Are we a people of progress or a people of inaction? #holdthefloor pic.twitter.com/I8IxD81FGb
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
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
Here are some of Lewis' other tweets from throughout the sit-in:
My colleagues & I have had enough. We are sitting-in on the House Floor until we get a vote to address gun violence. https://t.co/rTqrPifuUz
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
From Newtown to Charleston... how long will it take for Congress to act? #NOMORESILENCE #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/uH4G5HCQc5
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
We have turned deaf ears to the blood of the innocent & the concern of our nation. We will use nonviolence to fight gun violence & inaction.
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
Act today for the victims of gun violence. Act today for their families. Act today for our nation who cries out for action.#holdthefloor
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
We are sitting-in so that our colleagues will stand up for the American people. #holdthefloor #goodtrouble https://t.co/Y2yXvU8dVX
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) June 22, 2016
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