The customary prayer and pledge of allegiance went ahead, but Poe was forced to recess the House when dozens of Democrats refused to leave the well., who had waged a nearly 15-hour filibuster last week to force votes in the Senate on gun legislation.J., and Chris Murphy, D-Conn. Bobby Rush, D-Ill. Frank Pallone, D-N. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is seeking. Ted Poe, R-Texas, tried to start the House’s work at noon.Democrats accused Republicans of political cowardice by failing to schedule a vote.By late afternoon, 168 House Democrats — out of 188 — and 34 China Electric Paint Spray Suppliers Senate Democrats joined the protest, according to the House minority leader’s office, and there was no sign of quitting. C-SPAN broadcast live video streamed on Periscope and Facebook from lawmakers’ accounts.Democrats cited polls showing broad public support for expanding background checks for firearms purchases and blocking suspected terrorists from buying guns. But in an unprecedented step, C-SPAN used live video feeds from one lawmaker’s Periscope account and another’s Facebook page to transmit words and images from the House chamber.Republicans had staged a similar protest in 2008.The protest began around 11:30 a. Republicans occupied the floor, delivering speeches after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the House on its August recess. They also encouraged tweeting under the hashtag NoBillNoBreak."Are they more afraid than the children at Sandy Hook " asked Rep.Republicans ultimately forced the drilling provision to be attached to a stopgap spending bill.More than 200 Democrats led by Georgia Rep. Democrats controlling the House at the time turned off the cameras amid a GOP push for a vote to expand oil and gas drilling.Exasperated Republicans were forced to recess while cutting off cameras that showed the protest. (Photo: AP)Lewis, a veteran civil rights leader, asked what Congress has done, then answered his own question: "Nothing. The sit-in had the feel of a 1960s-style protest, as some lawmakers sat on the floor, others in their seats. John Lewis demanded a vote on measures to expand background checks and block gun purchases by some suspected terrorists in the aftermath of last week’s massacre in Orlando, Florida, that killed 49 people in a gay nightclub. Pelosi ordered the cameras turned off. Ann Wagner, R-Mo. They’re run on authorization by legislative leaders.Congress remains gridlocked over gun control, a divide even more pronounced in a presidential election year., keep the House in session through its planned break next week to vote on gun legislation. Democrats were certain to challenge any move.Pelosi, now the minority leader, said the House needs to act on gun legislation, rather than continually hold moments of silence in memory of victims of gun violence. Democrats posted the Capitol’s main telephone number, which was overwhelmed, and urged constituents to call and request a vote.Ryan said Wednesday that House leaders were "waiting to see what the Senate does before proceeding" on gun legislation, including a possible compromise that Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.."Ryan dismissed the protest as "nothing more than a publicity stunt., interrupted briefly when Rep."No bill, no break," shouted Democrats, who demanded that Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis." In an interview with CNN, the Speaker said the House will not vote on a "bill that takes away a person’s due process.