House erupts as GOP tries to halt Dems’ sit-in

by TheHill.com - 06/22/16 10:15 PM ET

BREAKING: House floor back open, Dems chanting "no bill, no break" as Paul Ryan speaks https://t.co/cfzkdPrpez https://t.co/R4xfH37agq

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 23, 2016

The House erupted into deafening shouts as Republicans attempted to end Democrats’ sit-in on the floor with a vote unrelated to gun control.

Democrats began commandeering the House floor around 11:25 a.m. and vowed to press on until GOP leaders scheduled votes on bills to prevent terror suspects from buying guns and to expand background checks.

{mosads}Shortly after 10 p.m., Republicans called an unrelated vote to override President Obama’s veto of a measure disapproving of the Labor Department’s fiduciary rule.

GOP leaders had ordered the House into recess throughout the day as Democrats refused to cede the floor.

As Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) gaveled the House back into session, Democrats continued chanting, “No bill, no break!”

Ryan could barely be heard over the din as he asked for proper chamber decorum, and many Democrats held up sheets of paper with the names of gun violence victims.

Democrats forced a roll call tally on the measure, preventing Republicans from using a voice vote to claim the two-thirds majority needed to override Obama’s veto of their initial bill.

Ryan ordered the House back into recess after the measure failed to win the two-thirds needed.

Democrats began singing “We Shall Overcome” during voting — albeit with some modified lyrics.

“We shall pass a bill someday!” they sang. “We shall save the kids someday.”

JUST IN: House Democrats sing “We Shall Overcome” on House floor. Tune in to MSNBC for the latest. https://t.co/HOtELgWSfo

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) June 23, 2016

The protest can, and likely will, continue beyond the votes, with Democrats indicating they’ll continue the sit-in even if more votes are called.

“We are ready to stand in the way,” Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) declared before the votes began.

Some Democrats appeared to be ready for the long haul: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) held a pink and white pillow over his arm, while Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) appeared to have a blanket on hand.

The House is expected to return into session around midnight so that the House Rules Committee’s report on an emergency Zika funding measure can be filed. A vote is then expected on a motion to adjourn.

Democrats nonetheless plan on remaining in the chamber through the night to continue their sit-in.

“A number of our members will stay,” House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters off the House floor.

Mike Lillis contributed

Updated at 11:07 p.m.

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