Sanders urges backers not to be disruptive
Democratic convention opens as anger mounts inside, outside of hall.
Former rivals PHILADELPHIA — Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders urgently joined forces Monday to tamp down dissent among his supporters, as Democrats tried to keep infighting from overtaking a convention opening night featuring some of the party’s biggest stars.
It was unclear whether the efforts would succeed. Chants of “Bernie” echoed through the arena, and boos could be heard at times when Clinton’s name was raised.
Outside the arena, several hundred Sanders backers marched down Philadelphia’s sweltering streets. Signs carried messages such as “Never Hillary” and even in one case “Just go to jail, Hillary,” an echo of the Republicans’ “Lock her up.”
Much of Monday’s program appeared aimed at giving Sanders’ backers an opportunity to express their frustration before the convention moved on to focus on speakers who strongly support Clinton, such as first lady Michelle Obama.
Sanders was to deliver the night’s closing address, just after Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who was expected to give a fervent address in favor of Clinton as well as denouncing Trump.
For Clinton, it was a turbulent start to a historic four-day gathering that will culminate in
the nomination of the first woman to lead a major U.S. political party.
It also sapped some of her energy coming out of Repub- lican Donald Trump’s chaotic convention last week and the well-received rollout Satur- day of her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.
Sanders scored a major victory with the forced resignation of party chair Deb- bie Wasserman Schultz following the release of emails showing her staff favored Clinton during the primary despite vows of neutrality.
But Sanders’ aides reached out to the Clinton campaign Monday afternoon to express concerns that the chairwoman’s ouster wouldn’t be enough to keep supporters from disrupting the convention, according to a Democratic official.
The discussions between the two camps prompted Sanders to send emails and text messages to supporters asking them not to protest.
“Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays,” Sanders wrote.
Moments after the convention opened in Philadelphia, the DNC also apologized to Sanders and his backers “for the inexcusable remarks made over email.”
The statement was signed by DNC leaders, though Wasserman Schultz’s name was notably absent.
The Florida congresswoman’s resignation is effective later this week, though she also stepped down from her official convention duties. The mere sight of her on stage had been expected to prompt strong opposition from Sanders’ backers.
Sanders was a relatively unknown Vermont senator when he decided to chal- lenge for the Democratic nomination.
He stunned the Clinton campaign with his broad support among young peo- ple and liberals, as well as his online fundraising prowess.
Sanders previewed his remarks during an appear- ance earlier Monday before supportive delegates. He implored them to vote for Clinton, generating a cho-
rus of boos.
“Brothers and sisters, this is the real world that we live in,” Sanders said as he tried to quiet the crowd. “Trump is a bully and a demagogue.”
Clinton is promising a stark contrast to last week’s Republican gathering, an often chaotic affair that featured a heavy dose of pessimism about the economy
and national security. “I don’t see how you run for president of the United States if you spend all your time trash-talking the United States,” she told supporters at a rally in North Carolina. “We’re going to have a convention this week that highlights success stories.”