Georgia Rep. John Lewis leads more than 200 Democrats in demanding 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. | AP Photo Democrats end guns sit-in

More than 24 hours after their occupation of the House floor, Democrats are ending their historic sit-in, leaving the Capitol without winning any of the concessions they demanded from Republican leaders when they first seized control of the chamber.

But Democrats say they have seized the political — and moral — high ground on the issue of gun violence, and they promise more dramatic actions when the House returns in early July.


“We must never, ever give up or give in. We must keep the faith. And we must come back here on July 5 more determined than ever before,” said Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), bringing an end to the sit-in he started yesterday while surrounded by his colleagues.

The waning hours of the demonstration — a string of short, orderly speeches from Democrats, with Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) tapping his podium to urge long-winded members along — proved to be a quiet denouement for the the raucous protest that consumed the floor Wednesday.

Gone were the throngs of Democrats, holding up the names of gun violence victims, booing the House speaker and signing Civil Rights hymns. In their place, dozens of weary Democrats remained, some in the same outfits they were wearing the day before, congratulating each other and promising to keep up the fight.

The sit-in took on a life of its own, dominating social media and cable networks late into the night Wednesday, bringing Twitter fame for some Democratic back-benchers and stoking an impromptu gathering of supporters outside the Capitol, several of whom stayed overnight.

But Democrats, frustrated by inaction following the Orlando nightclub shooting that killed 49 people two weeks ago, leave for recess no closer to voting on gun control bills in the House. And Republicans, angered by the daylong disruption, may be even more galvanized to stonewall the issue.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has promised not to acquiesce to Democratic demands for votes on two bills — one barring people on the “no fly” list from buying guns and another expanding background checks — not now or when lawmakers file back into the Capitol July 5.

In his weekly press conference Thursday, Ryan accused Democrats of using the sit-in as a fundraising ploy, holding up an email blast from the Democratic campaign arm asking for money to support the ongoing demonstration.

Nancy Pelosi on sit-in: Republicans left in the middle of the night Nancy Pelosi talks about the Republicans on Thursday.

About an hour before the protest wrapped up, a group of more than a dozen democrats, including sit-in leaders Lewis and Rep. John Larson, huddled at the front of the well to sing “We Shall Overcome” as several other members crowded in front, holding up iPhones to livestream the Civil Rights hymn.

Lewis and Larson (D-Conn.) were welcomed with a round of applause, with Rep. Joe Crowley even cupping Larson’s face affectionately and jokingly giving him a peck on the lips.

“What we witnessed yesterday was a historic event,” Larson said shortly before it ended. “Yesterday was a sit-in. But, as much as a sit-in, it was a teach-in.”

Earlier in the morning, Democratic leaders sent out a call to arms, asking members to head to the floor and bolster their fatigued colleagues as momentum behind the sit-in seemed to be waning.

“Please come to the floor to continue showing unity and to relieve colleagues who have been on the floor since the House adjourned earlier this morning,” the notice read.

Several members spent the night in the Capitol to keep the protest going. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) even spoke early Thursday morning in the same suit she’d worn to greet presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton the morning before.

After wrapping the sit-in, members started heading towards the Capitol’s front steps, heading into the afternoon to greet gun advocates and supporters waiting outside.

"When we come back here on July 5 were going to continue to push, continue to pull, to stand up and, if necessary, to sit down," Lewis said to a crowd of cheering supporters outside the Capitol.

"We're going to win!" he shouted.

"Hell yeah," the crowd shot back.