A small group of protesters took over a Sacramento, California, City Council meeting Tuesday, shouting “your hands are bloody,” among other things, at city leaders over their decision to purchase military equipment for police use.
Black Lives Matter activists disrupted the meeting, demanding a moratorium on the purchase of military equipment and demanding justice for Tyre Nichols, who died after five Memphis, Tenessee, officers beat him. The disruptors cited clashes between Sacramento police and protestors following the death of George Floyd, CBS reported.
Protesters decried the council’s Jan. 31 decision to purchase “The Rook,” the outlet noted. The rook is a small tactical vehicle used by SWAT teams and law enforcement across the U.S. to protect officers from deadly assault in tight places, according to Military Today.
At least three protestors shouted at the council from their seats before approaching the council and disjointedly screaming at the committee, CBS footage showed. (REPORT: High School Teen Takes Her Own Life After Video Posted Of Teens Beating Her In Hallway)
“We will not leave until you hear us,” one demonstrator hollered at Sacramento Vice Mayor Eric Guerra. “Eric, you hear us? We’re not leaving.” Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg reportedly called out sick to the meeting, leaving Guerra to run the conference.
Guerra shut down the meeting after the first hour due to the demonstrators’ outbursts. The activists plan to return to the next city council meeting to further discuss the rook purchase, ABC10 reported.
3/3 Guerra ended the meeting at the start of council comments, which followed public comment on non-agenda items. Note that Mayor Darrell Steinberg was absent tonight and Guerra said he was out sick. So that’s why Guerra was running the meeting.
— Kristin Lam (@kristinslam) February 8, 2023