Historic 'sit-in' in the US House of Representatives continues, social media keeps public in the loop
In an extraordinary 24 hours in U.S. politics, 20 members of the House of Representatives remain on the floor of the House and are continuing with an ongoing sit-in that began yesterday, protesting the inability to hold a vote on stricter gun control laws in the wake of the worst mass shooting in U.S. history in Orlando, Florida on June 12 that killed 49 people. While television coverage was pulled on the "sit-in" on Thursday evening, law makers taking part in the sit-in have relied on social media channels including Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram and whatever they have at their disposal on their mobile phones. While the "sit-in" was deemed a "publicity stunt" by House of Representatives speaker Paul Ryan, according a story today on CNN, Ryan was reluctant to force the protest to a conclusion because of the immense following it has gathered on social media.
According to the CNN news story, when a police officer told the Democrats that they will be conducting a daily security sweep, the House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi respond saying that the sit-in would continue "until hell freezes over." In an illustration of the power of social media, the report continues that, although Republicans leaders shut off House cameras, Democrats were continuing today to livestream their activities on the House floor. Rep. Mark Takano plugged his phone into an external power source, set it on top of a chair facing the podium, and was streaming on his Facebook page even though he'd left the chamber to appear on CNN's "New Day."
"New Day" broadcast his livestream and asked Takano about it. "We're going to stay," the California Democrat said, according to the news report.
Tension exploded onto the floor just after 10 p.m. ET, on Thursday night the story reports, when Ryan gaveled the chamber into order to hold a procedural vote on an unrelated matter. Over 100 Democrats -— some holding signs with the names of victims of gun violence -— remained in the House well, chanting "no bill, no break" and "shame shame shame." They also sang the protest anthem "We Shall Overcome."
Overall, more than 170 Democrats took part in the sit in, the story reports, and as the 'sit in' is now reaching 21 hours and counting, there remains about 20 people on the House floor.