Sanders Delegate Protests Clinton Nomination With Middle Finger On Live TV

Despite backlash, the Hawaii delegate says she has no regrets.

A Democratic delegate from Hawaii has been stripped of her credentials after making an obscene gesture to highlight who she felt should ― or rather, should not ― have been the party’s presidential nominee.

During Tuesday’s nomination roll call vote at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, as Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) announced the delegate count for Hilary Clinton, Chelsea Lyons Kent, a supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), casually raised her middle finger.

The offensive gesture was broadcast on national television.

Hawaii delegate Chelsea Lyons Kent flipped the bird on TV at the Democratic National Convention.
Hawaii delegate Chelsea Lyons Kent flipped the bird on TV at the Democratic National Convention.
C-SPAN

In an interview Wednesday with Honolulu Civil Beat, Kent said she is outraged by the Democratic National Committee’s clear favoritism of Clinton, calling it a “sham of democracy.”

As for her behavior Tuesday, Kent stands by it.

“I’m sorry about the way it has affected other people, but the DNC has been flipping us the bird since day one and it’s about time that someone flipped them back,” she told Civil Beat.

Tim Vandeveer, chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party, revoked Kent’s floor credentials for the remainder of the convention and removed her as a member of the Hawaii delegation only after she refused to apologize, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports.

“Delegates of both campaigns have expressed their shock and disappointment at the incident and have asked me to stress that this in no way reflects the sentiments of the rest of our delegation, regardless of their candidate affiliation,” Vandeveer reportedly said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Sanders’ supporters booed the Vermont senator after he urged them to unite behind Clinton, who was declared the Democratic nominee Tuesday.

In a clear effort to ease growing tensions this week, Sanders called on his delegates to take the high road and not protest or demonstrate on the convention floor. Doing so would damage the movement’s credibility, which is “what Donald Trump wants,” he said.

As seen in the video below, Kent didn’t get the message.

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Bernie Sanders On The Campaign Trail

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