Here Are 7 Things That Went Wrong on the Democratic Convention’s First Day

Will Drabold
Updated
Democrats had hoped that their national convention would go off without a hitch to contrast with the troubled Republican convention last week. But the opening day of convention in Philadelphia had some problems of its own. For conventions, which are designed to be tightly scripted affairs, the day began on more than a few sour…

Democrats had hoped that their national convention would go off without a hitch to contrast with the troubled Republican convention last week.

But the opening day of convention in Philadelphia had some problems of its own. For conventions, which are designed to be tightly scripted affairs, the day began on more than a few sour notes, though by the time primetime speakers Sen. Elizabeth Warren, First Lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Bernie Sanders took the stage, things had mostly gotten back on track.

Here’s a look at seven things that went wrong on day one:

The head of the Democratic Party resigned

Before the convention began, leaked emails from the Democratic National Committee stirred up trouble. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she would step down as chair of the Democratic National Committee and would not preside over the convention. Her resignation came after another Sanders call for Schultz to resign.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz was booed

At a Florida delegation breakfast, Schultz was also booed on live television as some people held up signs that read “E-MAILS,” a reference to emails Schultz and other party leaders sent during the primary that showed they were aligned against Sanders.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was also booed

When Bernie Sanders told a crowd of his supporters Monday morning they needed to unify around Hillary Clinton, he was booed.

 

The convention opened with gavel troubles

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was given the honor of gaveling in the convention—the official start to the four-day gathering. But after a short speech, Rawlings-Blake walked offstage. A staffer ran onstage to remind her she forget her only job: to lift the gavel and begin the convention. She darted back to the podium to slam the gavel and begin the convention.

Speakers were booed and heckled

As Democratic leaders began giving speeches, raucous Sanders supporters interrupted with various chants. Sanders tried to tamp down the protests to no avail.

But the protests even happened during the opening prayer.

The Democratic Party apologized

“The DNC does not—and will not—tolerate disrespectful language exhibited toward our candidates,” the apology read. Donna Brazile, the incoming interim chair of the party, told CNN later in the day, “This apology is not just to Bernie Sanders.”

Protests grew outside

At least 40 people had reportedly been arrested outside the convention, more than the total number of people arrested during four days of the Republican convention in Cleveland. Large protests continued through the afternoon and evening in the areas surrounding the Wells Fargo Center where convention delegates gathered.