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Some wore gags. Some put tape over their mouths. Some shouted.
On Tuesday night, around 500 delegates stormed out of the Democratic National Convention in protest of the Democratic National Committee's efforts to sabotage the campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.).
The walkout came four days after an email leak led to the resignation of DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz and diminished hopes for unity in an already-divided party.
Among the DNC protestors was Oregon at-large delegate Jason Allen, a Portland carpenter and contractor pledged for Bernie Sanders.
Allen spoke to WW by phone to talk about the walkout and what Democratic nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton has to do to win over the "Berners."
You walked out of the convention yesterday. Why?
Section 4 of the Democratic Party Charter said the job of the chairperson is to handle all proceedings without any preference to one campaign. Clearly, via their own emails, that was not the case. The DNC was not impartial, and the campaign of Hillary and the DNC were merged into one interest group.
Having been caught red-handed, there was a lukewarm apology letter sent to Bernie, and they suspended Debbie Wasserman Schultz. (Editor's note: Wasserman Schultz actually resigned, effective after the convention.)
So that was not enough.
Oh no. Americans are suffering. Oregonians are dying for change. They want something different. They don't want the same old corporatist oligarchy, they don't want interventionist war abroad. They have voted for Bernie for those issues.
Do you think the convention is bringing people together?
It's definitely bringing people together among Berners. Looking for activists on this level across the nation, it's like a needle in a haystack. Here, when you are at the DNC this time, it's nothing but needles.
As far as unifying the party, this party is based upon seniority—the traditional idea of earned respect, the idea that you should fit your will to that of the party. And obviously that is not the conditioning of Berners. So there's some friction.
Who will you vote for in November?
I can't address that. Bernie was our candidate, and now that Bernie has conceded the race we need to have a new candidate. Our votes need to be earned.
That candidate has to show that they are truly and authentically going to represent us, our position and give us a voice. And that has not happened.
Could that candidate be Hillary?
Absolutely. If she wants to engage with us. We need to hear an appeal to progressives and independents of why we should be able to trust Hillary. Why the campaign is going to represent us.
If the election were tomorrow, who would you vote for?
I wouldn't vote for Donald Trump. I'll say this—if the election was tomorrow, [Hillary] would lose. I can't answer that question.
WW reporter Peter D'Auria contributed to this report.
Willamette Week