Mass. Democrats' Sit-in Ends After 26 Hours, But No Gun Vote

Massachusetts Congresswoman Katherine Clark had withering remarks for Paul Ryan, after the House Speaker and leader of Congress' GOP majority foiled Democrats' attempts to "hold the floor" and force a vote on gun regulations.

Democrats were demanding votes on legislation to prevent terror suspects from buying guns and requiring background checks for more gun purchases. The nearly 26-hour "sit-in" protest led by Clark and Georgia Democrat John Lewis officially ended at about 1:15 p.m., but its goal was effectively thwarted much earlier than that.

Close to 3 a.m. Thursday, Ryan held a vote on a federal emergency funding measure to combat Zika virus with no debate, sparking chaos in the House. Democrats chanted "Shame!" and pushed toward the Speaker's podium holding papers bearing names of those lost to gun violence. Ryan then enacted a parliamentary procedure to recess Congress until July 5.

• Full Story: 8 Mass. Reps 'Hold the Floor'; Speaker Blasts Gun Vote Sit-In 'Publicity Stunt'

After refusing to bow to Democrats' demands, Ryan and his fellow Republicans must now "answer to their constituents," Clark said in a late-night Tweet following the Zika vote.

"Please keep up the pressure by calling, emailing, engaging on social media to demand votes on gun violence," she tweeted. "We will keep up the pressure too, and demand votes to keep American families safe from gun violence."

As of about 3:15 a.m., the House is in holiday recess. It will not go back into formal session until July 5.

Republicans seem no closer to taking a vote on the bill. Democrats promise the fight will continue.

All nine of Massachusetts' congressional delegates participated in the sit-in, according to social media posts from the floor. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren joined them as well, with Warren reportedly bringing in Dunkin' Donuts to cheering legislators.

Several lawmakers' sit-in continued after the vote, "but the crowd began to thin considerably given the late hour," The Hill reported.

Clark was among the dozen or so still "holding the floor" Thursday morning, tweeting just after 7 a.m., "How many more American lives will be lost to gun violence while the House is in recess?"

She and her remaining fellow Democrats left the floor after almost 26 hours, with Lewis exhorting them to keep the pressure on when the House returns.

This story updated 3:15 p.m.

>> Photo via Rep. Kartherine Clark Twitter