BREAKING: House Democrats holding "sit-in" on House floor (literally)

[brooklynite]

Rep. John Yarmuth ‏@RepJohnYarmuth 5m
I'm on the House floor with @repjohnlewis & Dems staging a sit-in to demand action on commonsense gun legislation

:large

[femmocrat]

1. K & R

Unfortunately, C-span is re-running trump's speech.

[George II]

40. They're showing the speeches on the steps of the Capitol. Republicans had the cameras inside...

...the House shut off.

[L. Coyote]

51. #NoBillNoBreak now trending #1 --- #holdthefloor

[center]

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) leads his colleagues in taking action on gun violence on the House Floor
June 22, 2016

Suzanne Bonamici ‏@RepBonamici 8 minutes ago
Thanks @SenFranken for joining us on the House floor to demand action on gun violence. #NoBillNoBreak

John Lewis @repjohnlewis 1 hour ago Retweeted Elizabeth Esty
Congressman, Georgia's Fifth Congressional District
We are sitting-in so that our colleagues will stand up for the American people. #holdthefloor #goodtrouble

John Lewis ‏@repjohnlewis 2 hours ago
My colleagues & I have had enough. We are sitting-in on the House Floor until we get a vote to address gun violence.

[L. Coyote]

90. #NoBillNoBreak STILL trending #1

[center]

[center]https://twitter.com/hashtag/nobillnobreak

Sheila Jackson Lee @JacksonLeeTX18
Happy to join my Colleagues on the House Floor to fight to bring a vote on gun control legislation. #NoBillNoBreak

KBC ‏@jk15chef 3 minutes ago
.@RepSwalwell #Periscope: . We are staying. We were sent to keep all of us safe. Watch live. #NoBillNoBreak

[elljay]

53. I believe the cameras and audio

feed to CSPAN is controlled by Paul Ryan, so he is the one who has killed it. Your Congress at work, a shining example of democracy.

[es35]

76. yes Ryan the Inquisitor had them turned off so the public can't see what we are doing

He's a real bad-ass as we used to say.

[Iliyah]

2. K & R

Enough!

[flamingdem]

3. Yasss

[BainsBane]

4. This is so awesome!

[Satch59]

5. Love it...

Hope they all join in.

[femmocrat]

6. The repukes called a recess and turned off the cameras!!

Chellie PingreeVerified account ‏@chelliepingree 4m4 minutes ago
As we started sit-in, GOP called recess & turned off cameras, but we're not moving #wheresthebill #nomoresilence

[workinclasszero]

48. I bet their master Wayne LaPierre called

and demanded that the cameras be shut down!

[calimary]

69. Anybody here called - to say thank you?

TOLL FREE Capitol Hill switchboard numbers conveniently located in my sig line below.

I've been using them all morning. They do still work - although sometimes you have to wait on the line for awhile. Must be a lot of phone traffic jamming things up today...

[irisblue]

7. if Rep John Lewis sits.....

It's serious time.

[shenmue]

10. Oh yes

[PoliticAverse]

13. The irony is John Lewis' name was actually on one of the lists being discussed...

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/08/20/lewis.watchlist/index.html

[IronLionZion]

17. that was 2004

they have ways to get off the list if it was erroneous. A lot of people were added by mistake back in the beginning because of common names or some such nonsense. Things have changed

[Duckhunter935]

47. How?

[IronLionZion]

52. Contact the TSA

and go through their background investigation and identity verification process. It's doable

[Ikonoklast]

93. Meanwhile your rights are being violated. I stand with the ACLU on this one.

Secret government lists that violate due process are unconstitutional, yet that is what the House members participating in this sit-in are in favor of.

Secret government lists.

Eliminating Due Process.


These are NOT Democratic ideals, it's Fascism for chrissakes.

This is a travesty.

[shenmue]

8. Yes!

[Happyhippychick]

9. Good! This is what they should be doing!

This is what we should be paying our politicians to do, they need to shake things up.

[femmocrat]

11. MSNBC is going to show it "after the break". nt

[99th_Monkey]

12. Awesome sauce!! n/t

[NoMoreRepugs]

14. awesome - BUT if EVERY person here at DU doesn't support the DEM nominee and vote

along with a whole bunch of other Dem voters this and every other effort of the last 50-60 years will be wiped out by a T-RUMP Presidency

[passiveporcupine]

67. Every single person here?

Hyperbole

We are a drop in the bucket.

[NoMoreRepugs]

123. Hyperbole? How about wishful thinking?

DU is the largest forum I am involved with so I have to start somewhere....

[bigwillq]

15. Good for them.

K and R

[asuhornets]

16. YASSSSSS!

[smirkymonkey]

18. Bravo!

K&R !

[BootinUp]

19. K & R

[ffr]

20. Representative revolution.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

This is why I vote for Democrats every election. Imagine what material legislation they could pass if all democrats voted!

[ailsagirl]

21. GREAT!!!!!!

Show the bastards you aren't going to quietly disappear just because they voted down all four measures!!!!!!!

[workinclasszero]

22. YES!!!!

GO DEMS!

F the NRA!!!!

[MyOwnPeace]

104. TIMES 2!!!!!!!!!

[meow2u3]

23. K&R for Democratic spine!

[Sheepshank]

24. no more permiting the do nothing Congress to keep doing nothing!!!

so very proud to be a Dem!!!!!

[yallerdawg]

25. Tell your Rep you support this!

It's common sense!

'No fly, no buy' and background checks for every gun sale, including gun shows and online.

Just that simple!

Tell your Senators to support the Collins 'No fly, no buy' amendment in the Senate!

You know the rightwing NRA is calling and emailing! We have to match and exceed them!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

26. This is GREAT! Takes the focus off Drumpf's bullshit speech PLUS makes the point that . . . .

. . . . the GOPeers are obstructionist do-nothings.

The fact that Ryan gaveled the House into a recess, which shuts off the cameras, makes the whole event that much MORE newsworthy. Cell phone images spirited out of the chamber, as if they were behind enemy lines.

I LOVE it!!!

[irisblue]

27. I called my reps office to ask if she was there

Joyce Beatty Ohio 3 is there too.

[calimary]

75. Ted Lieu of West L.A. is there! His office told me when I called in.

[jimlup]

28. Wish I could be there for support

Go congressional dems go!

[Firebrand Gary]

29. YES!

Bravo Democrats!

[Scientific]

30. k and r

[RockaFowler]

31. Paul Ryan had the CSPAN cameras shut off

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. Has this happened before?

[irisblue]

43. pretty sure not.

I hope Ryan is eating lots of tums

[TygrBright]

33. OMG, the delivery from "Spines R Us" FINALLY got through to the House Dem Caucus! YAY!! n/t

[Zoonart]

34. BTW

This is how the Revolution continues. We should all be out there right now, sitting-n in solidarity.
I am not young. Been payng attention to politics since the 60's and have NEVER seen this.
THIS IS THE REVOLUTION.

[Grassy Knoll]

35. K&R

[annabanana]

36. Kathleen Rice (my Rep) is ON THE FLOOR!

Is YOUR rep?

[Cosmocat]

64. Not a fucking chance

dim witted dolt con in what would be one of the last districts to every turn over a sitting R.

[lunatica]

37. Kick'd and rec'd

[mcar]

38. Good for them!

[Loki]

39. This is the reason I'm a Democrat!

I am there with them in spirit.

[nolabear]

41. I Sit with House Dems!

I'm so happy to see the Democratic Party begin to act as though we have the right to make demands.

[TygrBright]

42. Oh, and if Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM-1) isn't there right this minute, he will be soon! n/t

[etherealtruth]

44. happy to be the 100th REC

[Loki]

45. Everyone who has a Republican Senator

Who voted against these bills needs to CALL THEM right now. I just called Roy Blunts office in DC.

[Duckhunter935]

50. What about the Democrats who voted against the bills?

I hate selective outrage

[Loki]

54. Call them too.

What's your problem? I don't care what letter they have behind their name.

[Duckhunter935]

86. Good

[hamsterjill]

46. Proud to see a Texan in there!!!

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2016, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

'Bout damn time! Way to go, Sheila Jackson Lee!!!!!!!

Edited to add that I'm told Joaquin Castro (Julian's twin brother and my own representative) is also participating.

[RamblingRose]

49. What is the number they gave to call?

[irisblue]

57. I googled my reps phone number in DC & spoke to a staffer.

Easy peasy. I also called Sen Portmans' office & let his staffer know I was not happy with him.

[RamblingRose]

63. I called my rep as well. I thought I heard one of the speakers give a phone number

during their speech for people to call. ?? Maybe just the switchboard?

[Loki]

80. Two numbers

First: 202 224-3121 got message that all lines are busy so this must be the congressional switchboard, or you can text Congress at 644-33 to Demand Action on Gun Legislation now!. The second one worked for me.

[nadine_mn]

55. Shocked and proud at the same time

Good for Sen Franken for coming by and bravo to Rep Ellison!

[Maru Kitteh]

56. Woo Hooooooooooooooo! YAY. FINALLY. GREAT NEWS :-)

[DemonGoddess]

58. K&R!

THIS is why I'm a lifelong Democrat! Thank you Rep. John Lewis! THANK YOU!

[vi5]

59. So I guess between this and the senate fillibuster last week....

that proves that Democrats CAN do something and CAN stand up when they want to?

So much for the "Well what can we do? 60 votes, blah blah blah."

This. This is what you can do.

Last week. Last week was what you can do.

All of this. This is what you should have been doing for years now.

Glad to see them finally wake up.

[lunamagica]

60. Huge K&R!!!!

[Maru Kitteh]

61. K & R!

[leeroysphitz]

62. Go dems!!! W'er with you!!! n/t

[mountain grammy]

65. K&R

[meow2u3]

66. Go Dems. Here's your award

[Scientific]

68. This is a day of historic FAIL for Republican House Speakers

Former House Speaker Denny Hastert (R) goes to jail today for perving high school kids; former Republican House Speaker Newtie (3 wives philanderer) Gingrich is all the rage on talk shows today as possible Republican VP nominee and "moral champion"; and today we find that Paulie Ryan - the current Republican Stooge-in-Charge - has done nothing to date for America. Nothing. Not a frikkin thing. He is leading the Republicans to wasting our time and our tax money. Not doing their jobs. He and Turtle McConnell are leading the whole freaking KNOW NOTHING DO NOTHING STUPID PARTY to a Twisted Ambein-drugged Land of Nightmarish CONSUMATION

By refusing Congress's fundamental responsibility to debate and to vote on the public record on important and timely legislation, current Speaker Ryan and his Republican cronies have betrayed America once again, and today sparked a Legislative ClusterWank of epic proportions.

Has any other political party in any precinct of any planet, throughout the vast galactic vortex-spinning eons of time, been more tragically malignant ?

[calimary]

73. We need to make sure that this impasse belongs TOTALLY to the CONS.

Totally. Like 100%. They're the ones who refuse to cooperate. Refuse to do their jobs. They're too chicken to stand up on days of courage like today. All they know how to do is stand in the way.

We need to try to reinforce that fact, any time an opportunity arises.

To the complete and absolute BULLSHIT and lazy-ass quip - "meh, they're all the same. Both parties the same. No difference between the two major parties blah-blah-blah because whateverthefuck..."

Let us examine this just a wee bit.

Who's out there, sitting in on the floor of the House of Reps to insist on a House vote on gun controls, even as this particular list was being compiled? CONS or Dems?

Who's out there, today, Wednesday June 22nd, putting their necks (and in some cases their jobs) on the line to push SOME sort of common sense gun restrictions toward becoming law?

Who insists climate change is just some stupid lie that some stupid liberal made up?

Who remains hellbent on denying, restricting, and just plain ol' taking AWAY a woman's right to choose?

Who's making every effort to legalize voter suppression?

Who's steadfastly in favor of more tax cuts for the rich?

Who's trying to roll back the clock on LGBT rights?

Who's lining up to support legislation that would divide families and screw innocent little kids (and build that nice wall) just because they might be undocumented?

Who's still turning a blind eye to the needs of African Americans?

Who's still pushing to take away affordable health insurance that some 20 million Americans DID NOT HAVE, until the Affordable Care Act changed that?

Who's the gang that seems to think the only way to deal with other nations is to bully them or shoot at them?

Who's busy trying to force one narrow brand of religion on this secular nation?

Who's actually tried to shut down the government?

Who's the gang that conspired - on the very NIGHT of Barack Obama's first inauguration - to block everything he might come up with to solve America's problems? Which party obstructed EVERYTHING? Even if President Obama were to tell everybody the way to do it is vote republi-CON, I'll bet they'd obstruct it. ONLY because he's the one suggesting it.

WHICH party is it - that declares its hatred for government and does everything it can to make sure government is so hamstrung that it can't do anything at all?

Who's got the nominee who says wages are too high?

And as long as we bring him up - Who's got the nominee who routinely behaves like a spoiled, coddled, snot-nosed five-year-old bully on the playground (despite the fact that he's now 70-years-old)?

Let's make sure we give credit where credit is due! It's NOT that "both sides do it" or that "both sides are the same." It's ONE SIDE ONLY. Let's not tar 'n' feather both parties when only one has done this.

[randome]

82. An impressive list and you didn't even mention Trump!

[gademocrat7]

70. K&R!

[anigbrowl]

71. This is historic. I've been watching this on c-span for a couple hours and crying nt

[lindysalsagal]

72. Mine's Murphy, so I'm already there.

[calimary]

74. Mine's Feinstein - whose bill was one of those that failed yesterday.

Hers WOULD HAVE prevented the Orlando atrocity. Because hers was about keeping somebody WHO HAD BEEN ON the terrorist watch list ANY time in the past five years, from getting a gun, even if that person was presently NOT on that list. Which was the exact status of the mass murderer in Orlando at the very moment he opened fire.

[DesertRat]

77. I'm so proud of the House Democrats! #NoBillNoBreak

[Generic Brad]

98. Second that

This is historical.

[cry baby]

78. No bill, No break! nt

[gademocrat7]

79. My rep. Hank Johnson 4th Congressional District. GA is there!

[TygrBright]

81. Cruz and Cornyn voice and email boxes shut down... "full." n/t

[JennyMominFL]

83. Alan Grayson

Just emailed and tweeted my congressman, Alan Grayson.

[avaistheone1]

117. Who are these people?

I love them. Something finally energized these Dems.

[Hekate]

84. Kudos to CSPAN for keeping this live with Periscope and Facebook off cellphones. So proud of Dems!

This is a moment of history.

[Kablooie]

85. I respect them for trying but...

I don't see how this could have any impact.
It will get some publicity for the issue but why would it convince anyone in the House to reconsider?

[anigbrowl]

87. I want hte GOP on record about this

They're going to have to explain to people why they wouldn't allow the topic to even come up for debate. the reality is they want to get out of having a vote so they don't have to defend their record of being stooges for the NRA during election season. Democrats, meanwhile, have realized that friends and families of gun violence victims are pissed and are gambling that more people care about saving innocent lives than maximizing gun rights.

[Skittles]

92. it is highlighting the fact that repukes work against America's wishes

it is worthy

[Takket]

88. FINALLY

Seems like we've been watching the Dems play nice against the politics of right wing bullying and do nothingness for too long, now we are finally standing up and making the country take notice that WE are the party that will protect them, NOT the NRA bought and paid for right!!!!!!!!!!

[Ccarmona]

89. It's on C-Span Right Now (7:40p) EDT

They have captured the proceedings via Periscope and are showing it live.

[red dog 1]

91. NPR's "All Things Considered" made no mention of this important story

but they did about 2 minutes on other House activities that took place earlier,
and they gave Donald Trump a full minute to spout his lies
(They only gave HRC about 30 seconds)

Why did NPR's nightly news show completely ignore the sit-in?

NPR = Nice Polite Republicans

[femmedem]

94. That's my Congressman Joe Courtney in the foreground.

So proud of him and the Dems today.

[George II]

99. My Congressman, John Larson, was there too, as was the entire Connecticut delegation.

[femmedem]

120. I applaud them all.

We do have a really good delegation.

[klook]

95. Thank you, Mr. Lewis!!

My Congressman.


His office voicemail box is full, so I sent him an email of support. I'm sure he is hearing from plenty of "gun enthusiasts" who don't even live in his district!

(Note - Hope he has some hand sanitizer to use before eating anything!)

[kyburbonkid]

96. Go John! Rattle their cage.

Yarmuth is a champ. Too many guns that are too easy to get. Programs need to be developed to reduce gun numbers and make them harder to get. That is just pure plain old common sense.

[Eric J in MN]

97. Bernie Sanders was there. Anyone have a link to video of him there?

[George II]

100. Senator Al Franken was there almost from the beginning and sat on the floor with the House Dems.

[riderinthestorm]

101. Unprecedented spine. I credit Bernie Sanders for showing Dems how it's done

The people will rally.

There's unprecedented anger at Congressional gridlock.

Bernie showed the people will support this.

Kudos John Lewis.

[pnwmom]

102. The Rethugs have done this much more recently than Bernie.

They held a similar protest about a bill to allow oil drilling off the coasts.

[riderinthestorm]

103. I'm talking Dems. Who cares about Republicans? nt

[pnwmom]

105. You talked about who is "showing Dems how its done." That would be the R's

in their similar protest, much more recently than Bernie's.

They might be regretting that now.

[riderinthestorm]

106. The Dems have to know they're strong. That's independent of Rethugs

Someone has to demonstrate that there's a supportive base out there .

Bernie’s done that.

[pnwmom]

107. Bernie voted against the Brady bill and he voted for the law

Last edited Wed Jun 22, 2016, 11:41 PM - Edit history (2)

that exempted gun manufacturers and dealers from state liability laws.

So Bernie is not a leader on gun issues. But it's good that he's supporting people like John Lewis and Chris Murphy in this effort.

[riderinthestorm]

109. I'm talking @ taking direct bold action in Congress

I believe Bernie has inspired Dems to grow a spine. Kudos to John Lewis.

Bernie was there with House Dems on this.

Are you determined to fight the primary wars again?

[pnwmom]

110. John Lewis didn't need inspiration from anyone. And he didn't need to grow a spine.

Last edited Thu Jun 23, 2016, 12:32 AM - Edit history (2)

He's been standing tall his entire adult life. And he led the way in this protest.

http://www.americanswhotellthetruth.org/portraits/john-lewis

Despite more than forty arrests and serious injuries, John Lewis remains an unrelenting advocate of nonviolence. Serving as the Atlanta, Georgia representative in the US House of Representatives since 1986, his speeches, writings, and voting record show his commitment to a global vision in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the prologue to his autobiography, Walking with the Wind, Lewis states that “Children holding hands, walking with the wind...is America to me--not just the movement for civil rights but the endless struggle to respond with decency, dignity, and a sense of all the challenges that face us as a nation, as a whole. That is the story of my life, of the path to which I’ve been committed since I turned from a boy to a man, and to which I remain committed today. It is a path that extends beyond the issue of race alone, and beyond class as well. And gender. And age. And every other distinction that tends to separate us as human beings rather than bring us together. That path...an ideal I discovered as a young man has guided me like a beacon ever since, a concept called the Beloved Community.”

John Lewis has written: “We, the men, women, and children of the civil rights movement, truly believed that if we adhered to the discipline and philosophy of nonviolence, we could help transform America. We wanted to realize…the Beloved Community, an all-inclusive, truly interracial democracy based on simple justice, which respects the dignity and worth of every human being.”

[riderinthestorm]

111. Link to John Lewis or anyone else doing such a thing? nt

[pnwmom]

112. You must have missed the stand Senator Chris Murphy and many other

Democrats (with a notable exception) took in the Senate last week. That wasn't a filibuster by official rules, since it wasn't an effort to block a bill.

It was an effort to force a vote -- very much like the effort that is ongoing in the House.

And the horrific shootings of 100 more Americans by one hater with an assault weapon is what galvanized them.

https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-applauds-house-democrats-for-unprecedented-sit-in-demanding-votes-to-stem-gun-violence

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) applauded the Connecticut delegation, U.S. Representative John Lewis, and the dozens of Democratic members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday during a sit-in demonstration demanding that the House stay in session to debate and vote on gun safety measures to expand background checks and prevent gun sales to suspected terrorists. Murphy joined his colleagues on the floor of the House to show his support.

“John Lewis is a true hero. No one in Congress has done more throughout the course of their life to stand up for justice and righteousness,” said Murphy. “I’m proud of my Democratic colleagues in the House today. We will not alter the way Congress responds to the mass slaughter of our constituents without ripping up the usual script and demanding change. We forced Senate Republicans to allow votes to keep guns away from dangerous people – the House should not go on vacation until Speaker Ryan and House Republicans do the same.”

[riderinthestorm]

113. Yup, a new spirit in Congress. Why is that?

This isn't coincidental.

[pnwmom]

114. Funny that you're attributing it to someone who wasn't even there.

Though he did turn up in today's effort. Better late than never.

[riderinthestorm]

115. Was he there or not?

Facts say yes. Your post is ambiguous imo.

He's moved the party into action. Bravo!

[pnwmom]

118. Today he paid a visit to the House, but he didn't participate in the Senate action.

Both of my own Senators did, all the way from Washington State.

As I said, better late than never.

But Chris Murphy and John Lewis, the 76 year old leader of the Civil Rights movement, were the leaders of this effort. John Lewis didn't need anyone to help him "grow a spine."

What an insult that idea is to that great man.

[L. Coyote]

108. Rep. Zoe Lofgren speaking now. "No bill, no break." #NoBillNoBreak still trending #1

http://www.c-span.org/video/?411624-1/sitin-continues-house-recesses&live

John Nichols @NicholsUprising
This is the face of failure. @SpeakerRyan sought to silence debate. Instead he inspired a #NoBillNoBreak movement.


The White House Retweeted
Rep. Barbara Lee ‏@RepBarbaraLee 18 minutes ago
History being made on the House floor. Led by @RepJohnLewis, we sang "We Shall Overcome." #NoBillNoBreak

Senator Dick Durbin ‏@SenatorDurbin 26 minutes ago
The @HouseDemocrats sit-in continues. Tweet your support and demand @SpeakerRyan allow a vote on gun reform #NoBillNoBreak

Steny Hoyer ‏@WhipHoyer 53 minutes ago
Told supporters that Dems won’t quit until we vote to address gun violence #NoBillNoBreak #HoldTheFloor


Maddow Blog ‏@MaddowBlog 56 minutes ago
Rachel #Maddow will return to continue live coverage through the midnight ET hour on MSNBC.
#NoBillNoBreak

Elizabeth Warren ‏@SenWarren 2 hours ago
Sorry about blocking the livestream for a sec there! Just happy to see my friend @RepDuckworth at #NoBillNoBreak.

[DesertRat]

116. Awesome! nt

[chwaliszewski]

119. I've gotta admit...

you know I love Bernie and am no fan of Hillary, but it pales in comparison to my loathing of the worthless Republicans who refuse to do anything about the gun violence in this country. To all of the Democrats who participated in this event: About time!

[Scientific]

121. k and r

I hope someone with access to what's happening will start a Thursday Morning Congressional Sit-in Update thread.

[Thinkingabout]

122. Ryan calls this a publicity stunt, he excuse not to bring a bill to vote because

It did not pass in the Senate but the house brought the repeal of ACA to vote over fifty times knowing it was not going to pass the Senate, really smart on Ryan's part, wrong thinking.