- Delegates complain Clinton is corrupt, not electable
- Protesters say they will fight on without the senator
More
than 100 pro-Bernie Sanders demonstrators walked out of the Democratic
National Convention on Tuesday in protest of the nomination of Hillary
Clinton for president over the Vermont senator.
The protesters, many of whom were Sanders delegates, exited the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where the convention is being held, after the senator moved to make Clinton’s nomination unanimous in a show of party unity. Outside the arena, several of the Sanders supporters said they were not prepared to embrace a party or a candidate they viewed as corrupt, conservative, or simply unable to win the general election.
The demonstrators gathered in front of a media tent and some went inside to stage a sit-in, drawing the attention of a large police contingent. Protesters outside chanted "the whole world is watching" and held up signs to the tent’s windows.
"I want them to know they have nominated a flawed candidate who cannot win," said Vincent Venditti, a Georgia delegate who supported President Obama in 2012 and 2008. "The party left me behind."
Few protesters expressed a willingness to embrace Republican nominee Donald Trump in the general election, saying that Clinton would lose to the New York billionaire whether they voted for her or not. Some said they would concentrate on down-ballot races.
Kathryn Conant, a West Virginia delegate in a tie-dye shirt who said she had been a Democrat for 45 years, said she saw "the party shifting farther right."
The protesters, many of whom were Sanders delegates, exited the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where the convention is being held, after the senator moved to make Clinton’s nomination unanimous in a show of party unity. Outside the arena, several of the Sanders supporters said they were not prepared to embrace a party or a candidate they viewed as corrupt, conservative, or simply unable to win the general election.
The demonstrators gathered in front of a media tent and some went inside to stage a sit-in, drawing the attention of a large police contingent. Protesters outside chanted "the whole world is watching" and held up signs to the tent’s windows.
"I want them to know they have nominated a flawed candidate who cannot win," said Vincent Venditti, a Georgia delegate who supported President Obama in 2012 and 2008. "The party left me behind."
Few protesters expressed a willingness to embrace Republican nominee Donald Trump in the general election, saying that Clinton would lose to the New York billionaire whether they voted for her or not. Some said they would concentrate on down-ballot races.
Abandoning Democrats
Venditti said he handed his credentials to the chairman of his state delegation and declared himself an independent just after Sanders called for the acclimation vote, which effectively made Clinton the nominee by the overall consent of the convention.Kathryn Conant, a West Virginia delegate in a tie-dye shirt who said she had been a Democrat for 45 years, said she saw "the party shifting farther right."
"The voices have been shut down," particularly those of Sanders’s young supporters, said Kathleen Burke, a New Mexico delegate who put tape over her mouth with the words "No Voice" written on it. "I’ll be leaving the Democratic Party as early as tonight."
She said she would return to the convention tomorrow only to participate in an organized protest, if one materializes.
‘It’s About Us’
Even with the end of Sanders’ candidacy -- and despite concessions in the party’s platform intended to appeal to his supporters -- several protesters said they would not stop fighting for the issues that animated his campaign, including raising the minimum wage, opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and efforts to diminish the influence of the wealthy in politics."It wasn’t about him; it’s about us," said Luis Eric Aguilar, an Illinois delegate, through tears. He said he wrote "No TPP" on his arm after his pro-Sanders signs were taken away from him.
The protesters were relatively peaceful and began to disperse after about two hours. The Philadelphia police said that no one had been arrested as of 9 p.m.