House sit-in shows unprecedented use of technology
What happened when Democrats in the House decided to sit-in Wednesday isn't unprecedented. But the way Americans are able to view it is -- thanks to recent advances in social media.
A group of House Democrats objected to the GOP's decision to end a legislative session without considering any measures to curb gun violence, and they decided to stage a sit-in to register their disapproval.
The tactic is very rare, but it's happened before - twice in the last two decades, according to the Washington Post. In 2008, before Congress' August recess, Democrats turned the cameras and lights off on Republicans, who were demanding a vote to address rising gas prices. In 1995, cameras were turned off on the House Floor during a budget dispute.
Those spats, however, didn't play out in the public eye, because the chamber's cameras are customarily shut off when the House isn't in session.
What gave Americans the opportunity to view this latest act of civil disobedience on the House floor? New social media tools, including Periscope and Facebook live, made it possible for viewers to watch the sit-in in real time, even after the cameras were turned off. C-SPAN, which traditionally relies on the official House camera to broadcast the chamber's proceedings, actually turned over its broadcast to the livestreams being put out by members themselves on social media.
"Ten years ago, if we did this on the floor, it would have been like a tree falling in the wilderness, nobody would have even known," Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told CBS News outside the Capitol before speaking to the crowd around at 1:00 am Thursday morning.
"But because of technology and Periscope, the entire discussion is being streamed," she continued. "It's a debate heard round the world."
It's worth noting that members like Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif., were violating House rules by sharing video feeds on periscope and Facebook live. Under current rules, people are banned from using "any mobile electronic device that impairs decorum" while on the floor.
