Democrats stage sit-in on House floor to push for gun vote

Democrats are staging a sit-in on the House floor to push for action on gun control legislation.

Dozens of Democrats were participating in the sit-in after it began Wednesday morning, with some lawmakers seated cross-legged on the floor.

Democrats have been pressing for action on gun control before the House leaves at the end of this week for a planned recess.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), the veteran lawmaker who was brutally beaten by police in the 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Ala., began the sit-in by giving a speech while surrounded by his colleagues.

"We have turned deaf ears to the blood of the innocent and the deaths in our nation," he said. "Mr, Speaker, where is the heart of this body. Where is our soul?

"How many more mothers, how many more fathers have to share tears of grief before we decide to do anything?"

Shortly after Lewis spoke, the Democratic lawmakers sat down in the well of the House.

The House was then gaveled into recess, and the chamber's C-SPAN cameras were turned off.

A spokeswoman for Speaker Paul Ryan

Paul Davis Ryan Kenosha will be a good bellwether in 2020 At indoor rally, Pence says election runs through Wisconsin Juan Williams: Breaking down the debates MORE (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.

"Members are intending to stay until some action is taken," Lewis spokeswoman Brenda Jones said.

Just a week ago, Democrats took over the Senate floor to call attention to gun control.

The two Connecticut senators who led that effort, Chris Murphy

Christopher (Chris) Scott Murphy Democratic senator calls for 'more flexible' medical supply chain to counter pandemics The Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Don't expect a government check anytime soon GOP chairman to release interim report on Biden probe 'in about a week' MORE and Richard Blumenthal, were on hand for the House sit-in on Wednesday.

At just before noon, Rep. Ted PoeLloyd (Ted) Theodore Poe Sheila Jackson Lee tops colleagues in House floor speaking days over past decade Senate Dem to reintroduce bill with new name after 'My Little Pony' confusion Texas New Members 2019 MORE (R-Texas) gaveled the House back into session and led members through a morning prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Democratic members on the floor stood for the pledge and prayer, but would not leave the well of the House after those ceremonies.

"The House is not in a state of order due to the presence of members in the well," Poe said before asking them to leave.

When he was ignored, he gaveled the House back into recess and the cameras again went dark. Poe’s call for order was barely audible in the chamber over the Democrats’ chants of “no bill, no break!”

"We'd love to show you what's happening on the House right now but those cameras are controlled by the House," C-SPAN's anchor said, shortly after Poe started the recess.

Afterward, Assistant House Minority Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.) led Democrats in a prayer for victims of gun violence.

“Let’s have a real prayer!” shouted Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

The sit-in comes just more than a week after the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, in which a gunman who pledged support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Around the same time Democrats began their House floor sit-in on Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee rejected a proposal to prevent terror suspects from buying guns.

Rep. Nita Lowey (N.Y.), the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, offered an amendment to a Department of Homeland Security spending bill that reflects a measure authored by Sen. Dianne FeinsteinDianne Emiel Feinstein Names to watch as Trump picks Ginsburg replacement on Supreme Court McConnell says Trump nominee to replace Ginsburg will get Senate vote Top Democrats call for DOJ watchdog to probe Barr over possible 2020 election influence MORE (D-Calif.).

Feinstein's bill, which was rejected by the Senate on Monday, would grant the attorney general authority to block a gun sale if there is "reasonable belief" that the firearm would be used for terrorism. The measure would further require a procedure so that the Justice Department would be notified if a person investigated for terrorism in the last five years tries to buy a gun.

The committee defeated Lowey's amendment in a party-line vote.

The Senate on Monday night rejected four bills dealing with gun control. A separate bipartisan measure may come up for a vote later this week.

Photos of the sit-in were quickly shared on Twitter by lawmakers and their aides.

Proud to join colleagues & the American people demanding action on gun violence. #GoodTrouble #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/clQpwwGNKZ
— Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) June 22, 2016

Time to occupy the House to demand action. #NoBillNoBreak #DisarmHate pic.twitter.com/C7BZpzNvxL
— Rep Donna F Edwards (@repdonnaedwards) June 22, 2016

BREAKING: Dems stage sit-in on House floor to force gun vote https://t.co/zRuTGs06xL pic.twitter.com/dLJX2B2Hct
— The Hill (@thehill) June 22, 2016

John Lewis staging a sit-in Nashville in the 1960s v John Lewis staging a sit-in in Washington in 2016 pic.twitter.com/w2EoTG7fWj
— georgia (@normanisreyes) June 22, 2016

A number of Democratic senators crossed the Capitol to join in the protest.

.@SenWarren joins the sit-in…literally. #NoMoreSilence #NoBillNoBreak pic.twitter.com/rp1xLUOfTS
— Earl BlumenauerEarl Blumenauer Ahead of a coronavirus vaccine, Mexico's drug pricing to have far-reaching impacts on Americans Trump threatens to double down on Portland in other major cities Federal agents deployed to Portland did not have training in riot control: NYT MORE (@repblumenauer) June 22, 2016