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Texas Democrats participate in 'sit-in' to force vote on gun control

Most Texas Democrats were part of an unconventional procedural tactic that became known as "the sit-in" on Capitol Hill. Democrats essentially overtook the chamber by literally camping out on the floor and demanding a vote on gun control legislation

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Houston Democrat, spent hours Wednesday sitting on the floor of the U.S. House nodding and responding to her Democratic colleagues' demands for increased gun regulation.

Jackson Lee and most of her fellow Texas Democrats were part of an unconventional procedural tactic that became known as "the sit-in" on Capitol Hill. Democrats essentially overtook the chamber by literally camping out on the floor and demanding U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan allow a vote on gun control legislation in response to a recent shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

"Where is the morality of this place?" asked Jackson Lee at one point during the hourslong demonstration.

The collective action brought regular business in the U.S. Congress to halt, and at least one round of votes lapsed over the course of the day.

The unique tactic was something of a hybrid of the group filibuster — a floor procedural move that is exclusive to Senate rules — with the Civil Rights-era sit-ins of the 1960s. U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Georgia, a Civil Rights icon, emphasized that historical connection by leading the charge among his colleagues Wednesday.

Democrats were largely focused on securing votes on measures aimed at preventing suspected terrorists from buying firearms and expanding background checks. Frequently, the chamber broke into cheers of "No bill, no break!"

But even as Democrats demanded a vote from Ryan, they were doing so with their smallest caucus in modern history. The trouble gun control activists found earlier in the week in the Senate would likely only face tougher resistance in the GOP-dominated U.S. House.

Along with Jackson Lee, nearly every Texas Democrat in the delegation contributed to the effort in their own ways. Most observed from their seats in the chamber. U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey of Fort Worth and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio each delivered fiery speeches.

Ryan's office opted to turn the House cameras and microphones off during the event.

"The official House feed has been switched off," C-SPAN, the congressional cable channel, stated on its channel and website after many viewers questioned why the network wasn't carrying the demonstration live. "C-SPAN does not control it."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California directly challenged Ryan on the issue.

"I'm rising to say, Mr Speaker, turn on this microphone," Pelosi said.

Without the microphones and cable stream, the House proceedings took on an archaic feel. Democrats quickly found work-arounds.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, an El Paso Democrat, entered the chamber midafternoon and initially observed the action seated alone. But after many speakers decried that the chamber cameras were not turned on, he took to using his phone to transmit the event live on his Facebook page and Snapchat. At times, thousands of people on Facebook were monitoring his video.

Eventually, C-SPAN opted to temporarily broadcast the feed captured by O'Rourke's phone, as well as ones from other lawmakers.

Few on Capitol Hill would predict when — or how — this episode would end. Some Democrats said the caucus was prepared to maintain their demonstration all night Wednesday and into Thursday.

"The House cannot operate without members following the rules of the institution, so the House has recessed," said Ashlee Strong, a Ryan spokeswoman.

Republicans, for their part, opted to lay low and mostly avoided the chamber. The strategy, per a House GOP staffer who declined to speak on the record, was to not engage or bring more attention to the events.

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