Democratic lawmakers protest police brutality on Pennsylvania House floor

Democratic lawmakers protested police brutality and held up "black lives matter" signs on the floor of the General Assembly.

Bernstine said they didn't allow House Speaker Mike Turzai to continue with the meeting.

"The most disappointing part about yesterday was the way that individuals acted. My colleagues unfortunately stopped the speaker from going up to the Royster in order to move on with the people's business,” Bernstine said.

State Reps. Jake Wheatley, Ed Gainey and Summer Lee told Channel 11 during our Bridging the Divide town hall, they were calling for police reform after Antwon Rose was shot and killed by a police officer. The lawmakers said Republican leadership in the state wouldn’t allow their bills to even be debated.

“What I do know is that we’re currently evaluating several pieces of legislation that have to deal with some reform that we can make in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Bernstine said.

"Anytime something like this happens, a major issue like what happened in Minnesota, a lot of people start looking at it and saying we have to reform,” Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton said.

Burton said police are resilient, and they can adapt and change how they do business.

"I just hope that they invite seasoned law enforcement officers to the table to sit and discuss what they want to do and how they want to do it,” Burton said.

Turzai sent a letter to the governor's office asking for a special session to deal with police reform.

That date has yet to be set. You can read the full letter below.

Police charge woman seen on video driving through group of peaceful protesters Police charge woman seen on video driving through group of peaceful protesters

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