Sacramento City Council ends meeting as homeless protest erupts

The Sacramento City Council meeting Tuesday night ended abruptly after homeless rights activists spoke out and refused to refrain from applauding during the meeting.

Councilman Rick Jennings, who was running the meeting in Mayor Kevin Johnson’s absence, issued a warning to protesters who spoke out of turn. He then adjourned the meeting after some in the audience continued to raise their voices.

The council chambers erupted, as some of the protesters walked down the aisle and tried to approach the dais. A line of police officers blocked their path as the protesters yelled at council members.

The City Council was a few minutes into a presentation on a council subcommittee formed earlier this month on homelessness. Mayor Kevin Johnson formed the committee in the midst of an ongoing protest by activists seeking to overturn the city’s ban on camping.

Those activists have been turning out for council meetings in large numbers in recent weeks. More than 10 protesters have been arrested this month at a makeshift campground outside City Hall.

City officials say they have no intention of repealing the anti-camping ordinance.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 8:20 PM.