House Dems’ sit-in elevates the status of live-streaming
Soon after the historic protest began, the GOP recessed and C-Span cameras were shut down. That’s when Periscope and Facebook’s global reach entered a new echelon.
The political debate on gun control wages on, and social media proves to be a dominant force of communication.
On Wednesday, Rep. John Lewis of Georgia called on his fellow Democrats to stage a ’60-style sit-in on the House floor demanding that a gun control measure be passed—or at least given a vote by the 435-member legislative body.
Lewis, an icon in the battle for civil rights a half-century ago, said:
We’ve lost hundreds and thousands of innocent people to gun violence. We must remove the blinders. The time for silence and patience is long gone. We’re calling on the leadership of the House to bring common sense gun control legislation to the House floor. Give us a vote. Let us vote.
After the call to action Republicans called a recess, which shut off many of the cameras in the room—expect for one. Later, many more switched on.
Led by Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, Democrats used their smartphones to connect with the public via Periscope and Facebook Live.
The grassroots broadcast continued on social media:
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