Civil rights icon and Georgia Rep. John Lewis declared victory Thursday as he and the other Democrats who staged a revolt in the House of Representatives over gun policy reform suspended their nearly 26-hour sit-in in the Capitol.
While they failed to get the Republicans to vote on two controversial gun control bills, Lewis said they got the point across to the American people. House members' footage of the sit-in, recorded on cell phones posted to Facebook and Tweets, went viral on social media as a wide range of people including millennials and celebrities shared images of what was taking place on the chamber floor.
The blend of civil rights era nonviolent resistance and Internet-era social media protest combined to help amplify the Democrats' cause.
"By sitting in, we're really standing up for the rest of America," Lewis, an icon of the Civil Rights movement, said a little after 1 p.m. "It's not a struggle that lasts for one day, one week, one month, one year."
Eventually, Lewis said, those who favor gun policy reforms will win.
#NoBillNoBreak sit-in ends after 25+ hrs. @repjohnlewis assures that the fight will continue https://t.co/oCxaL5CnjL pic.twitter.com/IwOgwtrXZA
— The Root (@TheRoot) June 23, 2016
For 26 hrs we stood against gun violence. The #SitIn ends, but we're just getting started. Rs can't keep ignoring this debate. #NotOneMore
— Lois Capps (@RepLoisCapps) June 23, 2016
.@HouseDemocrats sing #WeShallOvercome during the #sitin started by @RepJohnLewis https://t.co/0J106EpMxihttps://t.co/hmeFsm14mi
— Josh Berlinger (@j_berlingerCNN) June 23, 2016
Some senators supporting House #guncontrol #sitin:@ChrisMurphyCT, Franken, Booker, Markey, Hirono pic.twitter.com/EsYkoDKril#NoBillNoBreak
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) June 22, 2016
C-SPAN caller, Staunch Republican: Democrats are right about this one #sitin
— Randy Prine (@randyprine) June 22, 2016
