The Democratic National Committee had a tough day Monday, the first day of the Democratic National Convention. From angry progressives to gale force winds, the Democrats’ convention was one huge mess after another until a strong slate of opening speakers finally seemed to pull the party together.
Sunday night, Bernie Sanders supporters crashed the DNC’s welcome party and set the tone for the next 24 hours, screaming their candidate’s name and threatening to take the DNC to task for “rigging the system” in favor of a Hillary Clinton nomination.
A bunch of Bernie Supporters just took over the #DNCinPHL official welcome party calling for a roll call vote pic.twitter.com/J9arqqVOXI
— Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) July 25, 2016
Things went downhill from there. Sanders supporters disrupted delegate breakfasts for Florida, California and Michigan, and even shouted down Bernie Sanders himself as he called for the party to unify behind Hillary Clinton.
Supporters boo when @BernieSanders calls on the crowd to elect @HillaryClinton https://t.co/l8Nq2oK9Jb https://t.co/11ahW5YNLZ
— POLITICO (@politico) July 25, 2016
As the day wore on, Sanders supporters gathered by the thousands outside the DNC’s perimeter, jeering delegates as they entered the Wells Fargo center, dragging out protest livestock, and voicing their displeasure with the Democratic hierarchy at every available opportunity.
Bernie bros screaming "Fuck you!" as I walk by. #DNC #demsinphilly pic.twitter.com/tFuIusKBVv
— High On Hillary (@highonhillary) July 25, 2016
As the convention itself kicked off, Democrats faced a series of disasters of their own making.
With Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz now officially out of the Democratic Party leadership, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was given the opportunity to gavel in the convention.
Despite making a series of opening remarks, Rawlings-Blake forgot to actually bang the gavel and had to return to the podium. And Democratic officials, already late on providing a speaker schedule, even spelled the host city’s name wrong on the official release.
Afternoon speakers faced a barrage of insults hurled by Sanders delegates with Wells Fargo Center floor passes. Acting DNC chair Rep. Marcia Fudge tried to calm the crowd with a message of unity, but was shouted down by angry “Bernie Bros.”
Democrats, fearing that Sanders supporters might try to rush the stage and disrupt the speakers, erected a wall around the podium to keep the audience at bay. And while speaker after speak stressed falling in line behind the presumptive candidate, Sanders supporters repeatedly broke into cheers of “Lock Her Up,” and “Roll Call Vote.”
Late in the afternoon, Sanders’s campaign even reportedly reached out to the Clinton campaign, fearing their delegates might try to disrupt the evening’s agenda.
But by early evening, the convention seemed to be getting under control. Under threat of severe weather, protesters were forced to clear the parks and walkways, and the media covering them were forced to take shelter. Media tents had to be evacuated, and the mood in the arena suddenly became more serious – and just in time.
Sen. Cory Booker, actress Eva Longoria, First Lady Michelle Obama, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Keith Ellison and, finally, Sen. Bernie Sanders all took the podium to minimal complaint. Sen. Cory Booker’s speech seemed designed to make morale improve among the gathered delegates, and Michelle Obama provided an enthusiastic endorsement of Hillary Clinton’s nomination. Comedian Sarah Silverman even took the stage to chastise Sanders supporters into behaving, telling them they were being “ridiculous.”
Although speakers were occasionally interrupted – one man screamed “You let us down!” at Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for example – the night closed with a grand finale speech from the first runner up himself, Bernie Sanders. The speech was so non-controversial that the arena began to empty out before Sanders was even finished.
Not saying / just saying … lots of people cutting out on this @BernieSanders speech. #dnc #ImWithHer #DemsInPhilly pic.twitter.com/35Bve2aUrg
— High On Hillary (@highonhillary) July 26, 2016
Tuesday, Bill Clinton will close the convention with a highly-anticipated speech in support of his wife’s nomination. And with a weather forecast calling for record high temperatures – a whopping 97 degrees – the DNC is hoping the protesters stay home.
