The floor of the Democratic National Convention was awash with anti-Hillary Clinton sentiment and sporadic protests as it opened Monday afternoon.
Every mention of her name drew boos from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s supporters, who toted signs railing against trade pacts and distracting from the speakers on stage. Televisions news cameras and anchors swarmed each uprising, broadcasting it live and furiously tweeting the latest chants. The barrage of activity and Klieg lights only seemed to encourage the rabble-rousing, which continued for more than an hour.
It was a circus-like scene, with the party chair absent and Sanders ranks feeling emboldened even though the convention was not contested. Cries of "noooo!" rang out each time a motion was brought up for voice vote. The ayes, the Clinton backers, however, made sure to make themselves known and yelled "aye" with increased intensity each time.
The official kickoff began after Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stepped in for outgoing Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to gavel in the convention at about 4:15 p.m.
Wasserman Schultz stayed offstage following heavy criticism over the leak of a trove of embarrassing DNC emails. She excused herself from gaveling the convention earlier in the day, bowing to heavy opposition from party activists. She also gave up her speaking slot, according to Hilary Rosen, a longtime Democratic operative and friend of Wasserman Schultz.
have decided that in the interest of making sure that we can start the Democratic convention on a high note that I am not going to gavel in the convention,” Wasserman Schultz told the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Florida, which first reported her plans.
The decision was one of many dramatic developments during a day of discord that threatened to distract from a lineup of high-profile speeches meant to convey Democratic unity on the first day of the convention. The FBI said it was investigating the email breach that triggered much of the intra-party friction over the weekend.
Sanders, Clinton’s main primary challenger, was cheered by supporters at a rally Monday afternoon when he smiled and told the crowd that the Florida congresswoman’s departure would “open the door” for new leaders to take the reins.
Minutes later, when Sanders encouraged Democrats to elect Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the crowd started booing loudly.
Every mention of her name drew boos from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s supporters, who toted signs railing against trade pacts and distracting from the speakers on stage. Televisions news cameras and anchors swarmed each uprising, broadcasting it live and furiously tweeting the latest chants. The barrage of activity and Klieg lights only seemed to encourage the rabble-rousing, which continued for more than an hour.
It was a circus-like scene, with the party chair absent and Sanders ranks feeling emboldened even though the convention was not contested. Cries of "noooo!" rang out each time a motion was brought up for voice vote. The ayes, the Clinton backers, however, made sure to make themselves known and yelled "aye" with increased intensity each time.
The official kickoff began after Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake stepped in for outgoing Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to gavel in the convention at about 4:15 p.m.
Wasserman Schultz stayed offstage following heavy criticism over the leak of a trove of embarrassing DNC emails. She excused herself from gaveling the convention earlier in the day, bowing to heavy opposition from party activists. She also gave up her speaking slot, according to Hilary Rosen, a longtime Democratic operative and friend of Wasserman Schultz.
have decided that in the interest of making sure that we can start the Democratic convention on a high note that I am not going to gavel in the convention,” Wasserman Schultz told the Sun Sentinel newspaper in Florida, which first reported her plans.
The decision was one of many dramatic developments during a day of discord that threatened to distract from a lineup of high-profile speeches meant to convey Democratic unity on the first day of the convention. The FBI said it was investigating the email breach that triggered much of the intra-party friction over the weekend.
Sanders, Clinton’s main primary challenger, was cheered by supporters at a rally Monday afternoon when he smiled and told the crowd that the Florida congresswoman’s departure would “open the door” for new leaders to take the reins.
Minutes later, when Sanders encouraged Democrats to elect Clinton and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the crowd started booing loudly.
