Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Protesters Storm Massachusetts State House

BOSTON — A group of protesters pushed past security and entered the Massachusetts State House Wednesday while Gov. Charlie Baker was announcing his administration was lifting the state's school mask mandate.

Massachusetts State Police were on scene after a group of about 10 people entered the building through the Ashburton entrance just after 11 a.m. The group was calling for the State House, which has been closed to the public for 701 days, to be reopened. Massachusetts is one of just two states that has not reopened its state seat since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

No arrests were reported.

Videos of the protesters chanting "This is our building" and "Reopen the State House to the people," were posted on Twitter. One of the protesters told NBC 10 Boston the group opposes vaccine mandates and COVID-19 vaccines for children.

The protesters were stopped before they could enter the room where Baker and other officials were speaking to reporters. Baker did say during the news conference he thinks the State House should be open to the public, but also said "that call is up to Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano."