House Democrats on Thursday afternoon ended their more than 24 hour sit-in on the House floor to protest Republican leadership’s refusal to allow votes on gun control measures.
According to reports from Capitol Hill, Democrats plan on meeting with advocates outside of the Capitol after leaving the House floor. Civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) gave one final speech on the House floor before Democrats left together.
Dems going to end sit-in with comments by John Lewis, then go to rally on East Side of Capitol
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) June 23, 2016
Democrats vacate the floor. Now heading to greet the protestors, many of whom spent the night out there.
Now, when’s #GohmertHour?
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) June 23, 2016
Before leaving the House floor, Democrats vowed to keep pushing for action on gun control when the House returns July 5.
We may be leaving floor after 25 hours, but #democraticsitin is not ending. We will come back here July 5th more committed than ever to act.
— Rep. Dan Kildee (@RepDanKildee) June 23, 2016
Outside the Capitol, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) thanked supporters, some of whom were outside all night in a show of support for the sit-in. Lewis then gave final remarks outside the Capitol.
“We are going to win. We are going to win. The fight, the fight is not over. This is just one step. When we come back here on July the 5th, we are going to continue to push, to pull, to stand up and if necessary, to sit down or sit in,” he said.
He then encouraged supporters to vote in the November election.
“The vote is precious. It’s almost sacred,” he said. “No one but no one can afford to stay home on election day. We got to get out there and do it and turn our country around and build a community of love and hope.”
House Democrats then sang one final rendition of “We Shall Overcome.”
Democrats met on Thursday morning to discuss next steps, but their plans for July are not yet clear, according to The Hill. Pelosi said that Democrats are still working on a plan to push for votes on gun control legislation, according to Roll Call.
Thank you Rep. Lewis and compatriots, for bringing some sanity to a place that sorely lacks it.
Thanks ya’ll and have a safe & happy 4th with your families.
This Fourth of July when most of us are celebrating our nation–truly one of the greatest on earth–I will also be celebrating the good people like Georgia Representative John Lewis and Connecticut Senator Christopher Murphy. Rep. Lewis and Sen. Murphy–and all those who participated in the filibuster and the peaceful sit-in–thank you for taking such a strong stand for restoring some semblance of sanity to the issue of guns in America. A Tip o’ the Hat to all of you.
Although this was symbolic, it was also inspirational. We CAN do the ‘right’ things…Thank you.
Yeah, guys and gals, you really accomplished a lot.