O'Malley and Sanders interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters in Phoenix

[Karmadillo]

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/18/martin-omalley-bernie-sanders-interrupted-hecklers-phoenix?CMP=fb_us

O'Malley and Sanders interrupted by Black Lives Matter protesters in Phoenix
Netroots Nation session derailed as crowd chants over speeches
Activist invited onstage before O’Malley is forced to leave it
by
Martin Pengelly in New York
Saturday 18 July 2015

The Democratic presidential candidates Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders were heckled and constantly interrupted during an appearance at the Netroots Nation conference on Saturday, as protesters over police brutality towards African Americans took the stage in Phoenix.

O’Malley was eventually forced offstage, after the protest and his attempts to respond delayed the appearance of Sanders.

O’Malley, who stood patiently throughout the interruption and attempted to answer questions from activists, left the stage clapping and saying rhythmically: “Black lives matter, black lives matter, black lives matter.”

Arriving on stage shortly afterwards, Sanders shook moderator Jose Antonio Vargas by the hand and said: “Earning your pay today?”

He then said: “Let me talk about what I’m going to talk about for a second.”

Sanders began a prepared introduction – as had been delivered by O’Malley – talking about policies, including media bias and the need for a raised minimum wage. Chants of “black lives matter” and either “save our men” or “say her name” then broke out again.

more...

[HappyPlace]

1. "say her name".... what is that about?

Sorry if I should know, I saw it referred to in another thread but I've been on some long shifts and disconnected from the news.

I hope it doesn't refer to yet another black victim of the police state.

TIA for any info on that.

[hedda_foil]

3. I watched it live and I have no idea what it was about.

[virtualobserver]

5. it is about african american women who have been killed by the police

[hedda_foil]

10. Yes, Sandra Bland,but there didn't seem to be anything said in context before the chanting.

Before that, the chant was "save our men." I agree that Bernie needs to watch Obama's masterful audience handling technique and to speak directly to this incredibly important issue. I'm pretty sure, though, that Hillary won't do better than O'Mally or Sanders.

[Agschmid]

18. "Heckler"...

Not sure I agree with that.

[hedda_foil]

19. Sorry, I see how that looks and will edit. Thanks.

[Agschmid]

20. TY.

[artislife]

21. Sandra is just one of many...they did roll call.....nt

[hedda_foil]

54. Thanks. I came in midway. I must have missed it.

[MisterP]

73. definitely referring to Sandra Bland

[leveymg]

2. Dirty-tricks right out of the Lee Atwater playbook. Will BLM heckle HRC?

Probably not.

The meme 2.0.

[msrizzo]

6. I'm sure they would have if she'd been there. nt

[leveymg]

8. Hillary wasn't there - so she wasn't heckled. Convenient. No mud splattered on her.

They couldn't have done it better:

[zappaman]

11. Lol!

I almost thought you were serious for a second!

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. LOL ...

[msrizzo]

13. Yes, the mysterious mythical evil "they."

The same people who are behind #BlackLivesMatter. Those genius and cunning corporate overlords who have convinced Black people to get themselves killed by police because.....what? Maybe you can fill in the blank for me.

[leveymg]

17. The Panthers and Weathermen got ratf-cked frequently this way in the Nixon era.

They got played off each other. This is an old dirty-trick. I also remember the "your candidate [insert McCarthy, Kennedy]" is a candidate for white liberals" smear. Was used to divide the two wings of the Democratic Party during the '68 campaign.

[okasha]

28. Obviouly the BlackLivesMatter protesters

are mere pawns of the Clinton campaign. Why I'd even bet Hillary orchestrated this personally while taking a break from planning to dominate Babylon with a Dominionist army of neo-Templars.

Just so there's no question--

[pscot]

61. Or Carl Rove

[okasha]

70. Uhmmm, yeah.

Because BlackLivesMatter and Carl Rove have so much in common.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. I take umbrage at the fact that you would accuse Black Lives Matter of nefarious behavior.

I take umbrage at the fact that you would accuse Black Lives Matter of nefarious behavior and being involved in campaign shenanigans...Congratulations, you have taken those who are doing God's work and turned them into agents of Satan.

[leveymg]

32. Are angels or devils the only options?

Was this little group of hecklers and the (former) Media Coordinator for NRN above playing -- or being played -- in a game of partisan politics? Impossible, right.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

36. Saying folks are guilty until proven innocent betrays a totalitarian mindset.

Was this little group of hecklers and the (former) Media Coordinator for NRN above playing -- or being played -- in a game of partisan politics? Impossible, right.

Saying folks are guilty until proven innocent betrays a totalitarian mindset. in the absence of even a scintilla of corroborating evidence all we have is an aggrieved group shouting because they aren't being listened to.

[leveymg]

57. If these individuals purpose was to pursuade or shame those who oppress AAs, their choice of targets

and tactics are ludicrously off-the-mark. But, if one wanted to gather attention to -- and build upon -- a smear campaign that falsely insinuates that Bernie is racially insensitive, this was pretty good political theater that could have been written by Lee Atwater, Karl Rove or Breitbart.

There's nothing totalitarian about it. Just an example of old-fashioned American political dirty-tricks.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

60. Cui bono?

Folks in pain will lash out indiscriminately. I don't see a vast conspiracy.

[leveymg]

63. Well, it can only benefit her or the Republicans. Take your pick.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

66. She's crushing him in the polls...Why would she risk engaging in dirty tricks and getting exposed ?

It would be like John Cena having to bring a knife to a street fight with Pee Wee Herman...


Cui bono? Nobody, but at least Black Lives Matter has made others aware of their pain.

[leveymg]

75. Because she's not. He's growing, she's shrinking. Sanders is so new that negative opinions haven't

become fixed. Now is the time to form them. The fact that Bernie is from a small, predominantly white state was the springboard for the theme that he is somehow disconnected from minority issues - he's not - but making illogical connections has everything to do with creating memes. That's why.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

77. She's beating him by 40 points in national polls

She's beating him by 40 points in national polls:


http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_democratic_presidential_nomination-3824.html


She's beating him among Latinos 73-3:


http://huelladigital.univisionnoticias.com/the-latin-vote/


She's beating him among African Americans 72-2:

http://www.suffolk.edu/documents/SUPRC/7_15_2015_tables.pdf

Page 10



My analogy was apropos. Bernie Sanders poses as much threat to Hillary Clinton as Pee Wee Herman ne Paul Reubens poses to John Cena.

"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

- John Adams

[okasha]

76. Stop. Just fucking stop.

You're making absurd and in effect racist allegations when you insinuate that the BLM protesters were there for any purpose other than to protest the current epidemic of murders of young (and not so young) African.Americans by police.

The Weathermen and Panthers were infiltrated by provocateurs. And right now, you look sorely like one.

[RiverLover]

78. Very well said.

I'm too upset to be as cohesive & articulate right now.

[LordGlenconner]

80. Wow Hillary is clearly omnipotent

And if that is the case, Bernie's screwed.

[quickesst]

87. Check is in the mail....

Hillary told me to tell you, you're doing a bangup job. If you can manage to raise Raygun from the dead, and tie him into Hillary"s plot, there's a big bonus waiting for you. Now, before you get paranoid, and start thinking there's a conspiracy to undermine your conspiracy theory, let me say now, I'm kidding.........maybe.

[leveymg]

88. Don't ever assume you have the job until after the second check has cleared.

For some reason, I remember my father saying that some years ago.

Don't assume I'm new to this game.

[quickesst]

90. I never assume...

...anything. Last real job I had which lasted 23 years? I knew I had the job before the first day was over. Since I don't know how old you are, female or male, and so on, it would be foolish to assume anything about you. It was a little humor, admittedly at your expense, but not meant as an insult to your character. You gotta admit though, the Clinton conspiracy thing is a pretty good stretch. Enjoy the popcorn.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. You said EXACTLY what I've been thinking.

How convenient that she wasn't there.

[Stellar]

64. Believe me...Hillary is not safe. The Clintons and all of their racist remarks in 2008. nt

[KittyWampus]

25. so was Codepink also right out of Lee Atwater?

[leveymg]

39. Codepink targets politicians, officials, and organizations which start, support and execute wars.

Here's a few of their notable anti-war actions:

March 20, 2007: a Code Pink protester interrupted a Hillary Rodham Clinton fundraiser in Washington, D.C., and was removed by security.[15] This was one of a series of Code Pink protests against Senator Clinton; a week later, five Code Pink members heckled her at the legislative-political conference of the Communications Workers of America.[16]

March 22, 2007: several Code Pink protestors were arrested outside the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi after announcing their intent to take over her office. Code Pink was protesting that the majority Democratic Party had not stopped war funding.[17]

September 10, 2007: Code Pink protested at General David Petraeus' Congressional testimony, interrupting the general's testimony. Committee Chairman Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) banged his gavel, attempted to restore order, and informed the protesters of possible legal ramifications of their actions. The protestors were subsequently removed from the hearing[18]

September 2007 onward: Code Pink began holding weekly "counter-recruitment" protests in front of the United States Marine Corps Officer Selection Office located in Berkeley, California.[19][20] These protests escalated into the broader Berkeley Marine Corps Recruiting Center controversy.

October 24, 2007: Desiree Ali-Fairooz approached Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice with red paint on her hands and shouted "The blood of millions of Iraqis is on your hands!" She was immediately arrested.[21]

September 4, 2008: At the 2008 Republican National Convention, a Code Pink activist attempted to heckle nominee John McCain onstage while he was giving his acceptance speech. Secret Service stopped the activist before she reached the stage.[22]

Their message is straightforward - shame the war-makers. Agree with their disruptive tactics or not, it's not misleading or false. Lee Atwater was an expert in divisive racial politics and creating false memes against Democrats such as the notorious "revolving door" ad against Michael Dukakis. This "Bernie doesn't care about minorities" meme is false, so it's a lot more like something Atwate would have come up with.

[KittyWampus]

44. I'm fairly certain BlackLivesMatter protestors also think they're protesting a war….

[leveymg]

53. But, unlike HRC, Petraeus and the other CodePink targets, Bernie isn't leading a war.

You're making a false equivalency. Clearly false.

He's being targeted for a smear that has no demonstrable basis in the factual record. That's the difference. You're smart enough to know the difference, I think.

[snagglepuss]

58. Hammer meet nail. nt

[BeyondGeography]

4. Sounds like the primary achievement was a sort of chaos

Not impressed with any of it. Why would any candidate go in the future?

[madfloridian]

7. This...Netroots Nation owes an apology to our candidates.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251456257

[Vattel]

15. meh, some passionate voices, some interruptions, o'malley didn't get defensive,

all-in-all democracy in action.

[Prism]

16. It happens

Life on the campaign. Remember, the LGBT community went after both Obama and Clinton in 2008 in this fashion (and during his first term at various fundraisers and dinners).

When a community is feeling distressed enough and unheard, they will do this.

[artislife]

22. ^^^this.

[m-lekktor]

24. this was my original thought but i soured on it a bit

after I saw how the opportunistic Clinton supporters have been spinning this. I will keep my sympathetic to their cause comments to myself.

[Prism]

26. One concern I have as I read a bit more

Is what is being alleged that an organizer of the event knew of this disruption beforehand, supported it, and perhaps was participant in organizing it? I don't quite understand the Twitter timeline being established. Did those tweets occur before the candidates spoke?

If that's what happened, then I'll understand why people are so pissed.

[m-lekktor]

49. yeah i saw that also.

I am just going to pay attention to the various accounts that pop up on this occurrence and attempt to refrain from further comment. I do support their cause wholehardheartedly but not as a propaganda tool for a particular candidate.

[beam me up scottie]

29. +1

Thanks, Prism.

[Vattel]

81. exactly

[MerryBlooms]

84. Yes, exactly this. Very well said.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. They are full of righteous anger and their grievances are legitimate.

They are full of righteous anger and their grievances are legitimate. It is unfortunate some of our candidates got caught in their ire.

[beam me up scottie]

30. Minorities know they have to shout to be heard.

O'Malley and Sanders understand this.

I hope all sides listen.

[Stellar]

43. hear, hear! nt

[MerryBlooms]

85. rec.

[RiverLover]

31. It is unfortunate. Its not like its being ignored. In Warren's keynote, she talked about "Black

Lives Matter".

They should have done this when Trump was there, in AZ. I don't get why they're messing with the team that's fighting for them.

[LiberalAndProud]

40. Our team is the one known for taking those votes for granted.

Maybe this time we need to earn them.

[CTBlueboy]

33. #blacklivematter

We are done with our issues getting pushed into the back.

If you think today was anything please believe blm organizers have something planned for HRC as well.

[RiverLover]

35. WTH? "‘Black Lives Matter': Elizabeth Warren lashes out at racism & Repubs who ‘cower’ at Trump"

‘Black Lives Matter': Elizabeth Warren lashes out at racism and Republicans who ‘cower’ at Donald Trump
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/black-lives-matter-elizabeth-warren-lashes-out-at-racism-and-republicans-who-cower-at-donald-trump/

This was Netroots KEYNOTE address. What exactly do you want from them?

[BainsBane]

34. Looks like neither handed it very well

I would have thought O'Malley would have been more adroit.

[RiverLover]

37. What wasn't "adroit" about how O'Malley handled it?

I thought he did extremely well, given the unfortunate circumstances.

[BainsBane]

42. "All lives matter"

Right after a "black lives matter" comment.

[MH1]

45. All lives don't matter? What?

[BainsBane]

51. See this

http://upload.democraticunderground.com/1251456567

The issue has been discussed repeatedly. I shouldn't have to repeat it to people here.

[MH1]

65. Sorry, I don't see it the same way.

President Obama is the President of ALL Americans, not just black Americans.

The next President had better be the President of ALL Americans, as well.

O'Malley did try to discuss the issue and how he would try to address it. He got shouted down. The protesters didn't want to listen to what he had to say in response to their questions and statements. They just wanted to keep the spotlight on themselves.

Yes I have seen some white people use the "All Lives Matter" meme as if to try to somehow diminish the "Black Lives Matter" meme. But just because a conservative says the sun rises in the East, doesn't mean that the sun stops rising in the East. Similarly, all lives do matter, even if a racist tries to use that saying to minimize the concerns of African Americans.

[Autumn]

67. Did they get upset at Hillary for saying that?

[beam me up scottie]

72. "Hillary Clinton’s ‘All Lives Matter’ Remark Stirs BACKLASH"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026897743

Why are you ignoring the fact that what she did was worse because she said it in an AA church after the Charleston massacre?

[Autumn]

79. Some of us don't look at every thread so when someone brings something up

we just might have to ask. But I'll ask. Is move on talking about Hillary or just O'Malley?

[beam me up scottie]

59. So why did Hillary do the same thing in an AA church after Charleston?:

Hillary Clinton’s ‘All Lives Matter’ Remark Stirs Backlash

[Autumn]

82. Pesky internet

I'm going to send you a link I think you will get a kick out of. I know I did.

[beam me up scottie]

83. They obviously didn't think that through.

Doesn't matter, bashed Bernie.

[Scootaloo]

62. Too bad we'll never know how Clinton would have handled it. n/t

[LiberalAndProud]

38. They have real concerns that need to be addressed.

Candidates who want their votes had best pay attention. If we find their tactics rude, I think we'd best get over it.

[Le Taz Hot]

47. And screaming at SCHEDULED speakers is the way to accomplish that?

Tell me, exactly when, in the course of human history has that ever worked and by worked I mean the ability for recipient of said screaming was able to magically wave his/her hand and all the bad stuff goes away? And if you're retort is that the protestors what a dialogue, fine, let's have a dialogue. What I saw today wasn't dialogue, it was screaming at someone who was ASKED to be there.

In any other situation, this would be labeled as bullying.

[LiberalAndProud]

50. Being polite hasn't been effective.

Yes, I think it may well accomplish firm commitments from all of our candidates for social justice. And no, I don't think this was an action designed for Hillary's benefit. We wouldn't be talking about Black Lives Matter now had they not made some noise. If some supporters are determined to take this as a personal affront to their preferred candidate, I can't help that.

For the record, assuming it matters, if my caucus was held today I would be caucusing for Bernie.

[Le Taz Hot]

52. So, Bernie Sanders working for social justice for 40 years

just isn't good enough.

That tells me all I need to know.

[LiberalAndProud]

55. Like I said, I can't keep you from taking this personally.

Hillary's absence was unfortunate, imho. PoC are under assault in this country. It's time for something more tangible from Washington to address these concerns. Bernie's record is good and as of this moment he's my choice over O'Malley precisely because of social justice concerns.

[Le Taz Hot]

56. Taking it personally.

What a strange response. Weird.

[artislife]

68. It isn't personal against the candidates but it is very personal

for the AA community at large.
PoC in general, but AAs especially, are being killed. At a traffic stop, in a desert, in custody and on the streets.

The veil that has been covering this from the consciousness of the majority has been lifted. It will not be put back again.

We must deal with this now.

For the life of me, this country seems to want the AA community to handle it with grace. Some can do it, like those amazing family members in SC, but because other's can't it doesn't mean they aren't handling it well.

This country needs to take over and handle the situation. We all must fight for their justice. That roll call didn't have every faceless victim...if it had, we would still be hearing name after name after name.

I cannot muster disappointment at Netroots. I think Martin and Bernie had such a small thing to handle.


YMMV

[Raine1967]

41. From Oliver Willis:

http://oliverwillis.com/2015/07/18/blacklivesmatter-and-impotent-rage-netroots-nation-edition/

I’m sure Hillary Clinton is glad she skipped this sad show.

The protesters weren’t pushing anything clear, except perhaps the well worn “visibility” excuse, which is nonsense. And the people they shouted down are the people currently engaged in the process who are most likely to listen to them. What is the point?

My personal belief is a lot of this mindset is borrowed from the Green Lantern Theory of American politics. It isn’t just for the clueless pundit set but also for those who appear to believe systemic national problems can be fixed with the wave of a hand. It isn’t that the issues of Black Lives Matter don’t exist, but what in God’s name can Bernie Sanders or Martin O’Malley do on a Saturday afternoon to fix them? It isn’t as if either man has given the issue a cold shoulder. The establishment front runner, Hillary Clinton, has made speeches and policy proposals on these issues as well.

And even while President Obama has been addressing these issues – just this week he visited a prison, the first time any president has done so — the protest would have been less impotent if it had targeted him or policy makers with the ability to do something over the next year.

But instead, they yelled at Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley, which accomplishes nothing more than proving the case that there are elements of the left who would protest the Easter Bunny if it meant being able to yell some sort of slogan.

I Was surprised Oliver wrote this, but I think he makes a point.

[ibegurpard]

46. being ambushed and sand bagged is just part of running for office

You learn from it and move on. In the meantime we have a continuing opportunity to talk about the very real institutional racism in America...paricularly when it comes to policing.
Oh and the "champion" Hillary was at a fundraiser...

[Le Taz Hot]

48. So, I ask once again to the defenders of the screamers,

where was the dialogue? I heard lots of screaming and chanting. I didn't hear dialogue.

[ibegurpard]

71. I'm not defending the "screamers"

But we live in a country where people seem to have the impression that because we've gotten rid of the Confederate flag the problem of racism is over. They got publicity. Allies should take the opportunity to continue talking about the issue. Was it rude? I think so. Do I understand it? Of course I do. No one gave a shit about all the gay people dying of AIDS in the 80s when activist groups were trying everything to bring visibility to it.

[Le Taz Hot]

74. I don't remember any of the Democratic presidential candidates

claiming "racism is over" (OK, with the exception of Jim Webb but he's not really a Democrat anyway). And again you say ". . . take the opportunity to continue talking about the issue." Couldn't agree more. The problem is that there was no talking going on, only screaming. I don't know of anyone who reacts well to being screamed at and I certainly don't know of any problem being solved by screaming.

[mmonk]

69. How many of these activists marched in the Civil Rights era of the 20th century?

One of the candidates did.

[bravenak]

91. They weren't even born yet.

This post could have come from Miss Millie, from the color purple.

[moondust]

86. How many BLM folks heckling the GOP Family Leadership Summit today?

Tickets were apparently free to the Ames, Iowa, event.

https://thefamilyleadershipsummit.org/event-details-2/

Looks to me like somebody picked the wrong event. Perhaps they were hecklers paid by somebody who coincidentally didn't attend.

[Depaysement]

89. Yawn

Both Martin and Bernie have discussed police brutality against African-Americans in detail and they will continue to do so.

Who doesn't want them to talk about class? The usual suspects.