C-SPAN Defies Paul Ryan’s Sit-In Blackout With Streaming App
The House speaker's move to shut the public out of the Democratic gun control protest backfired when the public interest cable channel began broadcasting live footage from the House chamber. Meanwhile, social media are adding fuel to the fire.
Members of Congress join Rep. John Lewis on the floor of the House (John Nichols / Twitter)
Members of Congress join Rep. John Lewis on the floor of the House (John Nichols / Twitter)
As members of Congress got comfortable on the floor of the House on Wednesday to protest a lack of action on gun control legislation, House Speaker Paul Ryan moved quickly to block any footage of the protest, ordering C-SPAN cameras in the room turned off. But that didn’t stop the public interest cable channel, which is broadcasting live video footage shot by Rep. Scott Peters on the popular streaming app Periscope.
C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras. Now showing a @periscopeco from @RepScottPeters. pic.twitter.com/L3JeHuSdL5
— CSPAN (@cspan) June 22, 2016
Apparently, Ryan’s decision to turn off C-SPAN just added fuel to the fire. Politicus USA reports:
As soon as Ryan turned off C-SPAN’s cameras on the House floor, interest in the protest grew exponentially. Democrats on the House floor are hearing that Republicans are getting nervous about the protest, but they are afraid to give in. Republicans fear that giving in for the Democrats’ demand for a vote on gun control would lead to more problems for them later.
Politicians have taken to Twitter to share their sentiments with the hashtag#NoBillNoBreak:
6 hours+ into the gun violence sit-in w/ @repjohnlewis. We will #holdthefloor until we get a vote #NoBillNoBreakpic.twitter.com/96xWR5rvbX
— Robin Kelly (@RepRobinKelly) June 22, 2016
Yes, that is @SenWarren sitting in with @repjohnlewis& House members to say #NoBillNoBreak.https://t.co/Ad3azG2cBepic.twitter.com/HR7pzZxacn
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) June 22, 2016
We are sitting in because we refuse to stand by while Americans die from senseless gun violence #nobillnobreakpic.twitter.com/tSOklMuHKh
— Grace Meng (@RepGraceMeng) June 22, 2016
A protest has also begun to gather steam on the Capitol steps:
What do we want? Gun safety! When do we want it? Now! #NoBillNoBreak#holdthefloorpic.twitter.com/kgX6bjgOAB
— AFT (@AFTunion) June 22, 2016
Crowd still growing! Come stand up for responsible gun regulations! #NoBillNoBreak#StopGunViolencepic.twitter.com/FjP7PkALaT
— Wesley Thompson (@EssbieWGT) June 22, 2016
Watch live video coverage of the sit-in here.
—Posted by Emma Niles
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