House Democrats are sick of inaction on gun control legislation, so they took over the floor with an old-school sit-in.
As usual, it was broadcasting live on C-SPAN – until House Speaker Paul Ryan, who controls the House cameras, ordered them to be turned off.
"This is a publicity stunt. They're trying to get you to ask me those questions for publicity's sake. This isn't trying to come up with a solution to a problem; this is trying to get attention," Ryan told CNN.
>> WATCH: Rep. John Lewis discusses House sit-in
C-SPAN's live floor feed isn't actually controlled by C-SPAN. And House cameras are typically turned off during recess — but usually no one is still on the floor.
>> PHOTOS: House Democrats stage sit-in to demand votes on gun control
So C-SPAN turned to Democrats' social media feeds to broadcast the sit-in. Video and pictures were tweeted along with Periscope and Facebook live streams.
>> Click here to watch the live stream on C-SPAN
House speakers have shut out representatives during a protest before.
In 2008, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned off the cameras, the mics and the lights on GOP lawmakers.
This video includes clips from C-SPAN, Periscope / @ScottPetersSD and CNN. Music provided courtesy of APM Music.
– The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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