C-SPAN uses social media feeds to cover protest
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democrat members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., center, and Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn. as they participate in sit-down protest seeking a a vote on gun control measures, Wednesday, June 22, 2016, on the floor of the House on Capitol Hill in Washington.
NEW YORK >> With the cameras it uses to cover Congress shut off, C-SPAN turned to social media feeds on to beam live coverage of the House Democrat’s sit-in to demand votes on gun control legislation.
“No bills, no break,” the Democrats chanted in between a succession of speeches, starting Wednesday morning and continuing overnight.
The nonprofit cable and satellite network C-SPAN and its offshoot covers each session of the House and Senate, using cameras placed in the chambers and controlled by the government. The network is independent, however, and accepts no government money, spokesman Howard Mortman said.
Through those cameras, C-SPAN aired the beginning of the protest with a speech by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga. When it became clear Democrats were conducting a sit-in, the Republicans in control ordered the House into recess and shut down the network’s cameras.
But two protesting representatives, Scott Peters of California and Beto O’Rourke of Texas, provided footage of the sit-in through Periscope and Facebook, and C-SPAN picked up those feeds to offer continuous coverage of the sit-in.
“Our mission is to show what is happening in Congress, and this is part and parcel of what is happening in Congress,” Mortman said.
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On its YouTube page, C-SPAN made available Lewis’ speech before the cameras were shut down. Lewis, a civil rights era veteran, said that “sometimes you have to do something out of the ordinary.”
The social media footage was grainier than the typical feed, and the Democrats were working without microphones. But as long as it is available, C-SPAN will air it, Mortman said.
“Our plan is to cover this until they are finished,” he said.
6 responses to “C-SPAN uses social media feeds to cover protest”
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The people know you folks are a joke. Unable to deal with the current threat, “radical islamic terrorists, these loons choose to try and subvert the real issue. Gun bills wouldn’t have stopped any of the islamic terrorists. Perhaps these legislators should sit in front of the cameras and practice saying, “radical islamic terrorists”.
It is not just radical islamic terrorists, we have RADICAL CHRISTIAN TERRORIST like the white boy Dylan Roof, Accused Charleston Church Shooter! Religion is the scape goat of the weak who dodge the fact that semi automatic fires are killing to many people! Maybe it is time to go back to Revolvers, Bolt Action Rifles and Breach Loaded Shotguns! Return the semi automatic firearms to their real purpose the military doing their jobs!
Democrats have become the most dangerous threat facing our nation. They opt to restrict rights, restrict free speech, and shut-down the legislative process. Yesterdays circus was reminiscent of third world countries, all the while these morons were smiling like kids at recess. Democrats care less about protecting our citizens from radical islamic terrorist refugees, as even the head of the CIA said can’t be done. They don’t want anyone to have to prove citizenship, or identity, to vote in this country, yet they behave like children in the face of incredible threats to our security, all the while trying to eliminate the 2nd amendment. They are an embarassment.
Once again, Congress shows itself to be above the law and given special treatment. When I visited the capitol, I had to give up my cellphone and key-fob during the security check & was told this was standard procedure. So why are lawmakers allowed to have their cellphones with them while in the chamber. Such a disgrace!
Same with everything they have, and do. Most Americans lost their health insurance, not politicians.
Well, it’s official, re-elect no one, they are all insane.