Anti-vaccine activists pour red liquid onto CA Senate floor: report

An anti-vaccine activist temporarily shut down the California state Senate on Friday when red liquid was dumped on lawmakers from the chamber’s gallery. 

Lawmakers were forced to leave the chamber and security cleared the gallery as authorities responded to the incident, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Authorities are trying to determine if the liquid was blood. 

{mosads}“That’s for the dead babies,” the protester shouted when she dumped the liquid from the balcony overlooking the Senate floor. 

The incident sparked gasps from the audience and anti-vaccine protesters raised their fists in the air as they were escorted out of the gallery. 

California Senate goes into recess after anti-vaccine protester throws a red liquid from the gallery.

Protester blurted something about the blood of “babies.” Senators seem unnerved as they leave floor. @sfchronicle #SB276 pic.twitter.com/xZgNQbObqI

— Dustin Gardiner (@dustingardiner) September 14, 2019

Sens. Cathleen Galgiani and Melissa Hurtado appeared to be hit by the liquid, according to the Chronicle.

“I took an oath to give the Valley a voice, that includes fighting for policies that represent the diversity of my region which has been neglected. No one said the fight would be easy. [Today’s] event was an unacceptable example of the challenges we face. As always, we’ll rise above,” Hurtado tweeted.

I took an oath to give the Valley a voice, that includes fighting for policies that represent the diversity of my region which has been neglected. No one said the fight would be easy. Todays event was an unacceptable example of the challenges we face. As always, we’ll rise above.

— Senator Melissa Hurtado (@Senator_Hurtado) September 14, 2019

Anti-vaccine protesters have descended on the state house in Sacramento in recent days after the legislature gave the state government the green light to review medical exemptions for children from vaccinations for illnesses like measles, mumps and rubella that they must receive before attending school.

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the measures into law. 

“California’s legislative process, as well as our doors, should remain open to all who wish to observe or speak out on a variety of issues, but we cannot allow anyone to endanger others. The behavior that occurred in the Senate chamber is unacceptable and has been dealt with by Capitol law enforcement. We will continue to do the people’s important business,” Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D) said in a statement to the Chronicle.