#BlackLivesMatter Activists Take Over Stage at Progressive Netroots Nation Conference

by Assistant Editor July 18, 2015

All hell broke loose at the progressive Netroots Nation conference this weekend. Activists for #BlackLivesMatter basically staged a mutiny and took over the stage. Democratic Party presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley got heckled as they were trying to speak. O’Malley was eventually booed off stage.

Hillary Clinton didn’t attend the conference.

The Guardian reports:

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

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, which was led by Tia Oso, national coordinator for the Black Alliance for Just Immigration in Phoenix, attempted to answer questions from activists. He eventually left the stage clapping and saying rhythmically: “Black lives matter, black lives matter, black lives matter.”

Here’s the moment when things began to happen and O’Malley bombed:

Here’s Bernie Sanders struggling to talk over chants and heckles:

All in all, it was a total disaster.

Now #blacklivesmatter group and Sanders speaking over each other. https://t.co/nvfNukPGq1

— Adrian Carrasquillo (@Carrasquillo) July 18, 2015

.@osope demanding to hear from O'Malley and Bernie Sanders. Activists have completely taken over #NN15TownHall. pic.twitter.com/Y6KiZ8qW5Y

— Darren Sands (@darrensands) July 18, 2015

Read more at Legal Insurrection and Twitchy.

(Image: Source)

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