State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-10th, livestreamed from the House floor Monday, showing a demonstration by black members of the Democratic party.

Bernstine directed his camera at his face while describing what took place.

“They have taken over the rostrum and have prohibited us from going into session,” he said. “They're completely blocking the speaker from going up and being able to speak.”

The Black Caucus took over the podium at the start of Monday's voting session, disrupting the day's business to argue for action on police reform bills. They hung a “BLACK LIVES MATTER” banner from the speaker's dais.

Rep. Malcom Kenyatta took the podium to ask for police reform.

“We're going to stay here until you act,” Kenyatta said.

Rep. Steven Kinsey said he refuses to accept the continuation of racial discrimination and social injustice. He said he's “frustrated, upset and feeling as though I'm carrying the weight of black folks on my shoulders.”

When the session was due to start at 1 p.m., the House-controlled camera feed pivoted from the front of the chamber, where the speaker sits, so the cameras did not show the action.

Bernstine said the actions violated House rules and prevented legislators from doing their jobs.

“This guy is literally screaming like a madman up here,” Bernstine said about one of the Democrats who was shouting at that point during Bernstine's video.

“This was a publicity stunt,” Bernstine said in an interview Monday.

Bernstine said the representatives were pivoting toward several pieces of legislation dealing with police reform, a few of which he supports.

But he said by stalling the session Monday they have stalled the timeline for these bills to be presented, discussed and voted upon on the House floor.

“There's an opportunity for us to work together. I'm starting to see some of the divisiveness that happens in D.C. happen in Pennsylvania,” Bernstine said. “That's something that we need to nip in the bud right away and make sure it doesn't happen.”

It's been two weeks since George Floyd died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into his neck for several minutes, even after he stopped responding.

Kinsey asked everyone in the chamber to kneel for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time prosecutors allege Floyd was pinned to the ground under the officer's knee.

Several Republicans appeared to be kneeling, and others appeared to be praying while seated.

At a news conference discussing the unveiling of $225 million in funding for small businesses, Gov. Tom Wolf was asked about the protest happening on the House floor.

“I support what they're doing,” Wolf said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.