PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) – Supporters of Bernie Sanders disrupted the first day of the Democratic convention yesterday, repeatedly chanting and booing mentions of Hillary Clinton’s name as the party’s hopes for a show of unity dissolved into frequent chaos.
Speakers in the convention’s first hours struggled to carry out business as angry Sanders supporters roared their disapproval, drawing a deafening response from Clinton delegates.
“We’re all Democrats and we need to act like it,” US Representative Marcia Fudge of Ohio, the convention’s chairwoman, shouted over the uproar.
Before the convention opened, Sanders drew jeers from his own supporters when he urged his delegates to back the White House bid of his former rival, Clinton, and focus on defeating Republican Donald Trump in the November 8 presidential election.
“We want Bernie!” they shouted in anger at both Clinton’s victory in the race for the Democratic nomination and emails leaked on Friday suggesting the party leadership had tried to sabotage Sanders’ insurgent campaign.
The angry uproar in Philadelphia was a setback to Democrats’ hopes the convention would be a smoothly run show of party unity in contrast to the volatile campaign of Republican nominee Trump.
It also was a bitter reminder of the bruising months-long primary battle between Sanders, 74, a US senator from Vermont, and Clinton, 68, a former secretary of state, who this week will become the first woman nominated for president by a major US political party.
Sanders tried to head off the disruptions, sending an email to delegates as the convention opened urging them not to interrupt the proceedings.
“Our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays. That’s what the corporate media wants. That’s what Donald Trump wants,” Sanders said in the email.
Several speakers pleaded for peace between the Democratic factions. Comedian Sarah Silverman, a Sanders supporter, said she would support Clinton “with gusto” and admonished the Sanders fans.
“To the ‘Bernie or Bust’ people, you’re being ridiculous,” she said, drawing a roar from the crowd and another round of competing cheers between Clinton and Sanders supporters.
She and US Senator Al Franken of Minnesota then introduced Paul Simon to sing his 1970 classic “Bridge over Troubled Water.”
Trump gloated at the Democrats’ opening day disorder.
“Wow, the Republican Convention went so smoothly compared to the Dems total mess,” he wrote on Twitter.
As the convention opened, the Democratic National Committee issued “a deep and sincere apology to Senator Sanders, his supporters, and the entire Democratic Party” for the email flap and said it would take action to ensure it never happens again.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned effective at the end of the convention over the controversy. At a morning gathering of Florida delegates, Sanders supporters booed Wasserman Schultz, who they accuse of trying to sabotage the campaign of the democratic socialist.
Sanders, speaking later to his delegates in Philadelphia, also drew jeers and catcalls when he urged supporters to help defeat Trump by backing Clinton and her vice presidential running mate, US Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia.
“Brothers and sisters, this is the real world that we live in,” he said, adding: “Trump is a bully and a demagogue.”
Members of the crowd screamed back: “So is Hillary.” “She stole the election!” someone else shouted.