Poor People’s Campaign keeps up Capitol protests

SACRAMENTO — They’ve become a regular sight at the Capitol in recent weeks — protesting poverty, trying to block Gov. Jerry Brown’s office and, on occasion, getting arrested.

On Monday, the California Poor People’s Campaign, calling for affordable housing and other policies to address poverty, interrupted the state Senate and forced legislators to halt the floor session.

“Nothing feels progressive about the way California is run from the top,” said Kait Ziegler, co-chair of the California Poor People’s Campaign. “So we’re coming from the bottom to mobilize and say we aren’t going to be silent anymore.”

No protesters were arrested as they sang and chanted from the third-floor gallery of the Senate chambers on Monday. Sergeants-at-arms asked several to leave until the group voluntarily dispersed.

The action marked a contrast to the group’s weekly protests that have resulted in 51 arrests since early May. On other occasions, the protesters said they were arrested at the Capitol for ignoring police orders, protesting a statue of Christopher Columbus and blocking access to Brown’s office. They also took over a budget subcommittee hearing.

CORRECTION

The Lodi Craft Beer Festival will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 16 at Lodi Lake. Early entry for VIP passes is 2 p.m. Last year’s information was inadvertently printed in Saturday’s Lodi Living section. For more information, visit