Bernie Sanders delegates shouted down speakers at a breakfast for California's delegates Monday morning, in a sign of disunity hours before the Democratic National Convention kicked off.
The speakers, including California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, were interrupted with boos each time they spoke about presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Pelosi said on stage she didn’t take offense to the protests even if those shouting intended to offend. She spoke of the need to unite to defeat Trump. But for many of the Sanders delegates, simply voting for Clinton to defeat Trump would not suffice.
"We want to make our voices heard for a real Democratic alternative," said 41-year-old California delegate Joey Aszterbaum. "It’s not enough for the platform and the speakers to mention Trump all the time. What’s important is for us to stand for what we believe in."
Many supporters in the crowd spoke about their discontent with Clinton’s willingness to change her stance on issues like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and fracking and her reputation as a "liar."
Sanders delegates spoke of their desire to secure him as the nominee and of a potential floor revolt organized by staging a roll call vote when the convention begins later Monday afternoon.
"My voters do not want Hillary, my voters are very angry at how Bernie was treated through the primary," said 23-year-old California delegate Natalie Higley.
California
Clinton won California's primary with 55.8 percent of the vote, to Sanders' 43. 2 percent, according to The Associated Press. She notched 254 delegates, compared with 221 for Sanders.
Higley said she’s felt denigrated by Clinton supporters since arriving in Philadelphia on Sunday.
"Everybody is constantly looking down on you, pushing you, telling you to go to the wrong place and in general treating you like a lesser human," Higley said.
Democratic National Committee party chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz was similarly shouted down when the Florida congresswoman addressed her state's own delegation on Monday.
