Story highlights Several protesters interrupted the Vermont senator with loud chants during a rally in Modesto

Two United States Secret Service agents jumped up on the podium to protect the senator

Modesto, California (CNN) Secret Service agents on Thursday rushed a stage here to protect Bernie Sanders for the second time this week after he was interrupted by animal rights protesters.

Toward the top of his speech at the Modesto Centre Plaza, several protesters interrupted the Vermont senator with loud chants, including two men who unfurled a black banner from an elevated riser to the left of the stage that read, "Animal Liberation is Social Justice."

A man and a woman stood near the front of the barricade with small signs reading, "Until Every Animal is Free." They were both escorted out.

Two United States Secret Service agents jumped up on the podium to protect the senator, who stopped speaking momentarily.

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