Rallying around their cry, "No bill, no break," House Democrats pressed on early Thursday in their sit-in calling for a vote on gun control legislation before leaving on their Independence Day break.
Republicans, who control the chamber, periodically returned to call the House back into session and hold votes, only to be met by boos and chants of "shame."
The scene began Wednesday as Democrats gave speeches calling for legislative action in response to the Orlando attack, the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
For a second consecutive week, Democrats in the U.S. Congress had commandeered a chamber to demand action on gun violence that has shattered numerous American communities – most recently Orlando, Florida.
Led by civil rights icon John Lewis of Georgia, Democrats pledged to remain in the House in a “sit-in” until legislation is brought forward to stem carnage from firearms.
“Over the last 12 years, gun-related crimes claimed more American lives than AIDS, war and illegal drug overdoses combined,” Lewis said in a letter to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan announcing the protest. “We urge you to lead the House into action and work with both sides of the aisle to pass common sense solutions to keep American children and families safe.”
Republicans initially responded with gavel-banging and demanding order on the floor. When Democrats refused to disperse, Republicans recessed the chamber and turned off the microphones. Although lights continued to shine, proceedings ceased to be televised, because video is fed from the chamber only when it is in session.
Democrats responded by launching their own broadcasts, using the mobile application Periscope on their cellular phones. A non-profit U.S. cable outfit that covers congressional proceedings (C-Span) began broadcasting the Periscope feeds.
House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the Democrats' effort, calling it a "publicity stunt."
Democratic Congressman Gerry Connolly said it is "about more than a stunt."
"It's telling a story about America that we're not very proud of and that we've gotta change," he told VOA. "It will not soften some of these hard hearts, but it sets the stage for a national discussion we desperately need, we think, and I hope will lead to reform."
The House disruptions followed last week’s action by Senate Democrats on the other side of the Capitol. Led by Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Democrats spoke on the Senate floor for 15 consecutive hours, at which point Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell agreed to bring gun control measures up for a vote.
On Wednesday, several senators walked across the Capitol to join their House colleagues in a show of support.
Visitors watched the proceedings from the galleries. A crowd of several hundred gun control advocates gathered outside the Capitol to show their support.
One of them was Raine Koch, of Alexandria, Virginia, who told VOA she was a survivor of gun violence as a child. "Something has to be done with guns in this nation," she said. "This is a big issue."
Congressman Lewis’ participation brought poignancy and historical gravitas to the House protest. An African American, Lewis took part in the 1965 civil rights march from Selma, Alabama that came to be known as “Bloody Sunday,” when state troopers attacked with clubs and tear gas. Lewis suffered a wound to his head.
Lewis and others used sit-ins to great effect in the 1960s to protest racial segregation at lunch counters and public facilities.
On Wednesday, some House Republicans responded to the Democratic protest with derision.
“Calling this a sit-in is a disgrace to [protests at] Woolworth’s [lunch counters],” tweeted Rep. Mark Walker of North Carolina, adding that the sit-ins of the past pressed for expanded civil rights, while Democrats want to “strip [gun rights] away.”
Rep. Steven Russell of Oklahoma told VOA the Democrats' action amounted to grandstanding and "absolute theatrics."
"I'm really disappointed that that's what our institutions are eroding to," said Russell. "I think we can do better."
The sit-in drew attention from Speaker Ryan’s long-awaited unveiling of a Republican alternative to President Obama’s signature domestic legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Ryan was away from the Capitol for much of the day, rolling out the Republican proposal at a Washington public policy research institute.
VOA's Katherine Gypson, Esha Sarai and Richard Green contributed to this report.
via Voice of America http://ift.tt/28Tuxfh
No comments:
Post a Comment