Protesters interrupted South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg (D., Ind.) during his appearance at CNN's Equality town hall Thursday night.
Buttigieg was about to hear a question from a graduate student in the audience when protesters began shouting, with one bringing a transgender-pride flag to the front of the stage.
"Trans people are dying, do something," the protesters chanted, among other slogans.
"It's ok, it's ok, be cool," host Anderson Cooper said before the situation appeared to escalate off-camera. "Hey, hey, hey, guys, guys. Yo, guys, chill out. Relax," he added as the sections of the crowd began to chant "Trans lives matter."
Buttigieg did not say anything as he allowed Cooper to address the crowd.
"Let me just point out there is a long and proud tradition and history in the gay and lesbian and transgender community of protest and we applaud them for their protest," Cooper said. "And they are absolutely right to be angry and upset at the lack of attention, particularly in the media, on the lives of transgender..."
An audience member interrupted Cooper to admonish him for applauding in response to the protesters.
"I agree with you, ma'am. I'm not applauding," Cooper said.
"Ok," the audience member replied.
Buttigieg's campaign recently unveiled a new plan aiming to create "A New Era for LGBTQ+ Americans." The plan includes repealing a ban on blood donations by gay and bisexual men, requiring coverage for gender-affirming health care, and lowering the cost of drugs designed to decrease HIV transmission rates.