Multiple Arrests Made As Californians Occupy State Capital in Protest of Medical Exemption Bill

UPDATE: 5:15 PM PST: CA Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office has announced the signing of SB276 & SB714

UPDATE: 4:24 PM PST: CA Legislature suspends rules to rush SB714 through the Assembly and Senate with no option for public comment

UPDATE 1:30 PM PST: CA Legislature Fast-Tracking SB714 for Simultaneous Floor Votes SB714 is the companion bill to SB276, which the Governor has indicated he will sign. VIDEO HERE

Californians, mostly mothers and their children, blocked several entrances to the State Capitol in Sacramento this morning to protest a bill making it harder to obtain medical vaccine exemptions. Several instances of people chaining themselves to entrance doors were reported. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) moved in and gave the protesters dispersal notices to no avail. After which time, two mothers and a grandmother were arrested and taken away in zip ties. More arrests have also been made bringing the total to seven at the time of this writing.

The protests have continued to block several entrances and have also amassed outside Governor Gavin Newsom’s office. SB 276 sits on the Governor’s desk awaiting its fate while SB 714, containing the language/amendments Newsom purportedly requested before he would sign SB 276 into law, is expected to be heard in committee soon.

Several people are live streaming the protests including The HighWire: