Sanders loyalists clash with police and bash Clinton nomination, refusing to heed their man’s call for unity

US election: Trump v Clinton

Associated Press

Published: 10:14am, 27 Jul 2016

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Bernie Sanders loyalists protested inside and outside the Democratic National Convention site and clashed with police on Tuesday after Hillary Clinton won the party’s presidential nomination.

Despite Sanders’ calls for them to support Clinton, thousands of activists have taken to the streets during the convention this week to voice support for the liberal Vermont US senator and his progressive agenda.

Moments after Clinton became the first woman to be nominated for president by a major US political party, a large group of Sanders delegates and supporters exited the Philadelphia convention site to hold a sit-in inside a media tent. Some had their mouths taped shut. A few spontaneously sang the chorus of the folk song “This Land is Your Land,” and a banner read “we the people.” They said they were holding a peaceful protest to complain about being shut out by the Democratic Party.

Supporters and delegates of former Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders walk out after Hillary Clinton was nominated during the second day at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Photo: Reuters

“This was not a convention. This was a four-day Hillary party. And we weren’t welcome,” said Liz Maratea, a New Jersey delegate at the media tent protest. “We were treated like lepers.”

In the streets outside, Sanders supporters who had spent the day protesting began facing off with police. Protesters began scaling 2.5m walls blocking off the secure zone around the arena parking lot. An officer sprayed one of the protesters.

Hillary Clinton makes history as first woman White House nominee, acclaimed by rival Sanders

Unmoved by Sanders’ plea for party unity, the Bernie or Bust protesters walked kilometres in the stifling heat again Tuesday to make their case for him.

They held a midday rally at City Hall, then made their way down Broad Street to the convention site. By early evening, a large crowd had formed outside the subway station closest to the arena.

“We all have this unrealistic dream that democracy is alive in America,” said Debra Dilks, of Boonville, Missouri, who spoke as a protest broke up near Philadelphia’s City Hall and wasn’t sure she’ll vote in November. “Hillary didn’t get the nomination. The nomination was stolen.”

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders waves after the state’s delegation cast their votes during roll call on the second day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The crowd consisted of an assortment of protesters espousing a variety of causes, but mostly Sanders supporters and other Clinton foes on the left. College student Cory James said he expects the Democratic Party to split over the nomination.

“I suspect we are witnessing an event that will fundamentally change American politics,” said James, of Flint, Michigan.

Sanders supporters boo him as he urges them to vote for Clinton at Democratic convention

Earlier in the day, participants at the rally charged that Sanders was cheated out of the nomination, and they said they weren’t swayed by his Monday plea to his supporters to fall in line behind Clinton for the good of the country.

A supporter of former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders protests in the media centre of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Photo: Reuters

“He persuaded no one to vote for Hillary,” said Greg Gregg, a retired nurse from Salem, Oregon, who intends to cast his ballot in November for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

The longstanding bitterness between Sanders’ supporters and Clinton’s seemed to grow worse over the past few days after a trove of hacked emails showed that officials at the Democratic National Committee played favourites during the primaries and worked to undermine Sanders’ campaign.

Black Men for Bernie founder Bruce Carter said Monday’s speeches from Sanders and Massachusetts US Senator Elizabeth Warren didn’t persuade him to support Clinton.

“They really agitate people more every time they stand up and do the Hillary Clinton hoo-rah hoo-rah,” he said.

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