Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-inalks to supporters along with House Democrats after their sit-in over gun-control law on Capitol Hill in Washington
Rep. John Lewis (2nd L) talks to supporters along with House Democrats after their sit-in over gun-control law on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 23, 2016. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis listens to a question during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, June 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
From left, House Assistant Minority Leader James Clyburn of S.C., Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Joseph Crowley, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. and Rep. Charles Rangel, sing “We Shall Overcome” on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 23, 2016, after House Democrats ended their sit-in protest. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
House Democrats walk out on the East Front on Capitol Hill in Washington after their sit-in over gun-control law, June 23, 2016. (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Rep. John Lewis, second from left, walks down the steps of the Capitol after House Republicans forced votes as House Democrats staged a sit-in on the House floor June 22, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in0
Supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in at the House Chamber shout encouragement from outside the U.S. Capitol on June 22, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Rep. John Lewis speaks to members of the media outside the Capitol after House Republicans forced votes as House Democrats staged a sit-in on the House floor June 22, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in0
Supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in on the House Chamber shout encouragement from outside the U.S. Capitol on June 22, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in8
Rep. John Lewis speaks to gun control activists outside the Capitol after House Republicans forced votes as House Democrats staged a sit-in on the House floor June 22, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in4
Supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in in the House Chamber shout encouragement from outside the U.S. Capitol on June 22, 2016 in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in2
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis speaks to reporters outside the Capitol on June 22, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in0
Rep. Joe Kennedy III applauds supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in on the House Chamber outside the U.S. Capitol on June 23, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in6
Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis speaks to supporters of House Democrats taking part in a sit-in at the House Chamber outside the Capitol on June 22, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
This photo provided by Rep. Chellie Pingree shows Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, center, and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures on the floor of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 22, 2016. (Rep. Chellie Pingree via AP)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in56
A lawmaker leaves the Capitol early in the morning of June 23, 2016, in Washington. (Pete Marovich/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
A photo taken and tweeted from the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by House Rep. Katherine Clark shows Democratic members of the House staging a sit-in on the House floor “to demand action on common sense gun legislation” on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 22, 2016. (U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark/Handout via Reuters)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
In this frame grab taken from AP video, Georgia Rep. John Lewis, center, leads a sit-in of more than 200 Democrats in demanding a vote on measures to expand background checks and block gun purchases by some suspected terrorists. The protest came in the aftermath of last week’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that killed 49 people. (AP Photo)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
This photo provided by Rep. Chellie Pingree shows Democrat members of Congress, including, front row, from left, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Joe Courtney, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, participate in sit-in protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures, Wednesday, June 22, 2016, on the floor of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Rep. Chellie Pingree via AP)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Charles Bolden, staff assistant of Rep. Robin Kelly, holds a poster with pictures of gun violence victims from Chicago as he walks towards the House Chamber on June 22, 2016, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
This photo provided by Rep. John Yarmuth shows Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, center, and Rep. Joe Courtney, left, participating in a sit-in protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures on June 22, 2016, on the floor of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Rep. John Yarmuth via AP)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
In this frame grab taken from AP video, Georgia Rep. John Lewis leads more than 200 Democrats in demanding a vote on measures to expand background checks and block gun purchases by some suspected terrorists. The protest came in the aftermath of last week’s massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that killed 49 people. (AP Photo)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
In this image from video provided by House Television, House Speaker Paul Ryan gavels the House into session Wednesday night, June 22, 2016, in Washington. (House Television via AP)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
In this image from video provided by House Television, House Speaker Paul Ryan stands at the podium as he brings the House into session Wednesday night, June 22, 2016, in Washington. (House Television via AP)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., heads to the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 22, 2016, to show support for the sit-down protest, seeking a vote on gun control measures on the floor of the House. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
Speaker of the House Rep. Paul Ryan ? arrives for votes as House Democrats stages a sit-in on the House floor June 22, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi holds a news conference with the House Democratic Caucus to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation in Capitol Hill, Washington, on June 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
A woman holds a picture of a victim of gun violence as U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation in Capitol Hill, Washington on June 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
People hold a sign which reads “Disarm Hate #NoBillNoBreak” as U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (not pictured) holds a news conference to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation outside Capitol Hill in Washington on June 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wears a rainbow armband as she attends a news conference accompanied by members of the House Democratic Caucus to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation in Capitol Hill, Washington on June 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
People affected by gun violence arrive for an event during on gun legislation on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Democrats stage gun-control House sit-in
A staff stands next to a podium which reads “#NoBillNoBreak” prior to a news conference by U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to call on House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow a vote on gun violence prevention legislation in Capitol Hill, Washington, on June 22, 2016. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
An unprecedented sit-in by Democratic members of Congress on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives over gun control turned into an overnight social media sensation before Congress adjourned early Thursday morning.
Democrats pressed on for more than 24 hours before bringing their protest to an end that afternoon.
Just before noon on Wednesday, a small group of Democratic lawmakers sat down together on the House floor of the Capitol to demand votes on proposals to strengthen background checks so that suspected terrorists could not buy firearms. They delivered blistering indictments of their Republican counterparts for what they consider to be government inaction in the face of ongoing gun violence. (Michael Walsh/Yahoo News)
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