By Cristina Marcos - 06-27-16 15:46 PM EDT
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is urging Democrats to hold "family sit-ins" in their districts this week following the nearly 26-hour sit-in on the floor to push for action on gun control legislation.
In a Monday letter to Democratic lawmakers, Pelosi emphasized a need to capitalize on the momentum from last week's House floor sit-in, which garnered national attention in the aftermath of the deadly shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando this month.
"John Lewis's historic sit-in on the Floor has resonated across the nation, energizing Americans tired of Republicans' reckless obstruction of bipartisan gun violence legislation," Pelosi wrote.
"Now, we must continue to carry forward this momentum in our districts."
Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) led last week's sit-in, meant to resemble the civil rights protests he participated in during the 1960s.
House GOP leaders opted to adjourn early for the Independence Day recess after Democrats refused to yield the floor unless bills to expand background checks and prevent suspected terrorists from buying guns came up for a vote.
Democratic lawmakers who led the sit-in called upon colleagues late last week to keep up the pressure for consideration of gun control legislation on a "National Day of Action" this Wednesday. Suggested events included press conferences, telephone town halls or roundtables.
Pelosi noted that gun violence prevention groups "stand ready to assist" with lawmakers' individual sit-ins.
"This is a moment of truth for the Congress, and for the overwhelming majority of Americans who want a vote to save lives," Pelosi wrote.
House GOP leaders remain unswayed to schedule floor consideration of either of the gun measures Democrats are pushing. Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) noted last week that the Senate already rejected proposals to aimed at restricting terror suspects from buying guns in recent days.
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