U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a Democrat from Georgia, is leading a cadre of his colleagues in a sit-in on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, vowing to continue the protest until the Republican House leaders call for a vote on “common sense gun control legislation.”
In an eloquent and impassioned speech before starting the sit-in, Lewis — surrounded by other lawmakers, most of whom, like Lewis, wore rainbow ribbons on their lapels in tribute to the Orlando murder victims — Lewis accused Congress of having “turned deaf ears to the blood of the innocent.” He continued, “Where is the heart of this body? Where is our soul? Where is our moral leadership? Where is our courage?”
Lewis declared that “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 for a vote Give us a vote! Let us vote! We came here to do our job. …
“We will be silent no more. The time for silence is over.”
Watch the video of his speech below:
Congressman John Lewis calls on House leadership to bring gun reform vote to the floor
