The moon was out, or moons, during the state Senate’s session.

Several climate protesters entered the chamber and dropped their drawers in an attempt to convince lawmakers there should be no new fossil fuel infrastructure.

Eight self-proclaimed members of the “extinction rebellion” movement, who say they were also responsible for a sit-in at Gov. Maura Healey’s office in February, were arrested after they stopped the work of the Senate because the upper chamber was discussing their tax cut package and, they reason, therefore not working to stop “the ongoing crisis precipitated by lawmaker inaction.”

“You can look away if you like, but just like the climate crisis, we’ll get more inconvenient until proper action is taken,” protesters shouted from the Senate Gallery over Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, before warning the gathered lawmakers they would shortly see several butts.

Protesters then stood, dropped their pants, and mooned the full Senate, revealing pink thongs sandwiched between the letters of “stop passing gas!” written in black lettering on their cheeks.

“You’re a senator, not an ass, why are you still passing gas? Come on senators, you make the rules, time to ban new fossil fuel,” they chanted, before Sen. Will Brownsberger declared the chamber temporarily recessed.

Brownsberger approached the protesters after lawmakers exited the chamber, apparently asking them to cease their chanting and cover their bums so senators could resume their discussions.

Protestors apparently refused.

State Senate President Karen Spilka briefly called the chamber to order, offering to let the protesters, now flanked by police, stay if they would be quiet. They continued chanting over her and she then ordered the room cleared.

The protesters were subsequently arrested and removed by force, chanting “No new fossil fuels” as they were taken away.

When lawmakers resumed their business about an hour an a half later, they did so without acknowledging the protesters or their antics, though it was clear that some senators were having trouble holding in their laughter as Tarr resumed his discussion of tax policy.

Herald reporter Chris Van Buskirk and wire services contributed.