WASHINGTON -- Democrats literally sat down on the floor of the House chamber on Wednesday -- and forced the House into a temporary recess -- as part of an effort to compel Republican leadership to vote on gun control legislation.

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), the civil rights icon who led sit-ins all through the 1960s, spearheaded the effort with a fiery, sermon-like denunciation of Congress for its failure to act in the wake of mass shootings.

"For months, even for years, through seven sessions of Congress, I wondered, what would bring this body to take action?" Lewis said while Democrats slowly surrounded him at the microphone. "We have lost hundreds and thousands of innocent people to gun violence. Tiny little children. Babies. Students. And teachers. Mother and fathers. Sisters and brothers. Daughters and sons. Friends and neighbors. And what has this body done? Mr. Speaker, not one thing."

After about 10 minutes of escalating questions -- and shouting, "Where is our soul? Where is our courage?" -- Lewis said it was time for Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) to bring up some of the pending gun control bills. In the meantime, he said, he'd just take a seat. Moments later, he sat down on the floor. And so did all the other Democrats with him.

Here's a visual: