US Congress sparks Over Gun-control Protest Which Causes Chaotic Scenes

 

There have been chaotic scenes in the lower house of the US Congress as Democrats staged a sit-in to demand a vote on gun control legislation.

The protest comes in the wake of the recent shootings in Orlando, the deadliest in modern US history.
Republicans adjourned the House early on Thursday to try to quash the sit-in, switching off the TV cameras.
But about two dozen Democrats remained, streaming speeches live via phones despite breaking rules on broadcasting.
The transmissions via Periscope and Facebook Live were taken up by the C-Span network, which provides continual coverage of Congress. One Democrat congressman, Scott Peters, who provided a feed, said the sit-in was breaking rules anyway.

The Democrats' protest follows the gun attack on 12 June, when a man claiming allegiance to the so-called Islamic State group, Omar Mateen, killed 49 people at the Pulse club in Orlando, Florida.

 

Compared to the pressing issue at hand, discussing technology may seem trivial. But the way in which the outside world got to witness the Democrats' sit-in will surely be considered a defining point for live online streaming.
With cameras shut off, US public service broadcaster C-Span resorted to running pictures being broadcast on Periscope, the live-streaming app owned by Twitter. The pictures were being filmed not by some social media intern or techy onlooker, but by Democrat Scott Peters on his smartphone.
Other feeds sprang up via Facebook Live, while CNN even managed to Apple's FaceTime to conduct a live interview with Democratic representative Steve Israel on the House floor (until he was politely asked to move into the corridor).

By Wednesday evening, some 168 House Democrats (out of 188) and 34 senators (out of 44) were on the floor of the House, some literally sitting on it.
As the protest reached its 10th hour, Speaker Paul Ryan tried to restore control with a recess.
He banged his gavel and tried to ignore the outbursts but amid Democrat shouts of "Shame! Shame!" he left the podium.
Democrats began singing "We shall overcome" and held up the names of gun attack victims.
The floor of the House became chaotic, with Republicans and Democrats shouting at each other.

                  The sit-in was led by Democrat Representative John Lewis (centre)                

Some Democratic representatives brought in sleeping bags, pillow and blankets, others doughnuts for colleagues.
After a brief adjournment, the House resumed business at 02:30, with the majority Republicans voting through a number of bills.
They then called an adjournment until after 4 July, reminding lawmakers that transmitting images and video broke House rules.
But Democrats shouted their new campaign slogan "No bill, no break!" and remained on the floor, streaming speeches live. Representative Eric Swalwell told the BBC that the lawmakers would stay through the night.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said: "Just because they cut and run in the dark of night, just because they have left, doesn't mean we are taking no for an answer."
The BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington says the protest follows years of Democrat frustration at being unable to pass stricter gun control measures.
She says that although 100 bills have gone before Congress in the past five years and all have failed, this is an election year and Democrats are making it clear to the electorate that if they want change, they know which way to vote in November.

The sit-in is being led by congressman John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement of the 1960s.
"What has this body done [to respond to the violence]?'' Mr Lewis asked.
"Nothing. We have turned a deaf ear to the blood of innocents. We are blind to a crisis. Where is our courage? How many more mothers... and fathers need to shed tears of grief?"

Supporters of the Democratic representatives gathered outside the US Capitol

President Barack Obama took to Twitter to thank Mr Lewis "for leading on gun violence where we need it most".
Republicans dismissed the protest as a publicity stunt.
Representative Kevin Cramer said: "I have no objection to them making fools of themselves on TV."
Paul Ryan told CNN he would not bring a gun-control vote in the House.
"They know that we will not bring a bill that takes away a person's constitutionally guaranteed rights without... due process," he said.