Tensions Flare in California Legislature Amid Protests

California State Assembly on April 19, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

SACRAMENTO—Tempers flared at the state Capitol building in Sacramento this week when thousands of protesters showed up to speak against legislation proposed by state Democrats on vaccine mandates and abortion.

During a committee hearing, Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) used profanity in his comments towards opponents who said more than their name, organization, and position on Assembly Bill 2098, one of the “Tyrannical Ten,” bills opposed by The People’s Convoy.

“Hey! Check it out! I need everybody to follow the [expletive] rules!” Berman yelled at the Assembly Business & Professions Committee hearing.

Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) shared a video clip on Twitter of Berman’s outburst on April 19.

“Yesterday, thousands of citizens came to the Capitol to make their voices heard. Our out-of-touch politicians didn’t like it,” Kiley wrote on Twitter.

Later, on his blog, Kiley wrote, “One Committee Chair had a total meltdown, cursing out the entire room for having the audacity to participate in their government. I had to see the video to believe it. Another chair cut off public testimony after an hour and forbade the use of ‘adjectives.’”

“There’s a reason for these antics: we’re winning. The radical Vaccine Work Group bills are going down in flames,” Kiley wrote.

Sen. Melissa Melendez (R-Lake Elsinore) wrote on Twitter about the conduct of Assemblyman Jim Wood (D-Santa Rosa), chair of the Assembly health committee, who chastised opponents of Assembly Bill 2223 on “reproductive health” for using adjectives such as “infanticide, “disgusting,” “hideous,” and “pure evil” among others to describe the bill.

“As if limiting testimony to 1 hour wasn’t outrageous enough, now democrats prohibit the use of adjectives,” Melendez wrote.

Melendez included a video in which Woods can be heard admonishing opponents of Assembly Bill (AB) 2223 and threatening to end public comments.

“Let me stop for a second. Just your name and position on the bill. Enough of the adjectives. Name and any organization represented. Otherwise, we’re cutting it,” Woods said, asking public commenters to follow the normal procedure of the meeting.

Democrats voted 11–3 in favor of the bill authored by Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), moving it forward to the Assembly appropriations committee.

“I have now watched AB 2223 go through 2 committees, with not one question being asked of the author. A bill this consequential, that will affect the lives of millions forevermore if passed, and not one question. This is shameful,” Melendez wrote on Twitter.

AB 2223 repeals the requirement of coroners to investigate infant deaths related to or following known or suspected self-induced or criminal abortions. A woman would acquire legal immunity for the death of her baby if it’s due to a “pregnancy-related cause, which is defined vaguely,” she also wrote.