SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The final day of the California Democratic Convention continued on Sunday following a tense night of protests and demonstrations. The calls for a ceasefire in Gaza at the convention center caused officials to cancel events on Saturday evening.
On Sunday morning, it was business as usual for the last day of the annual convention.
"As delegates, we have a responsibility to represent our region," said Andrew Taban of the Santa Clarita Valley Democrats. "We have to pass the platform."
Just hours before, demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in Gaza disrupted the events at the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, causing officials to cancel the remainder of Saturday's events.
"I was out there when I saw them move the security out of the way and rush inside. And it really upset me," said Lorraine Rowe with United Healthcare Workers West.
Robert Canales is the director of security for the event and said his 40 security guards were outnumbered by the hundreds of demonstrators.
"People who are here to try to get their voice heard, but completely through intimidation tactics and not by following the protocol and the rules of the convention," said Canales.
Canales said some people tried to bring in prohibited items like banners and signs, and at one point, things did turn violent.
"A couple of our security staff was attacked," said Canales. "One of our agents was bit on the arm during a confrontation with the protesters."
Even though the event was open to the public, those inside the convention center said the way the demonstration was handled was not right.
"There were some hateful aspects to it," said Tiffany Countryman with the Antelope Valley Democrats for Change. "There were some things that didn't need to be said."
Yassar Dahbour, one of the main voices from the demonstration, said he stands by forcing the convention to cancel some events Saturday night.
"We came here as delegates, as a community, to pass a message that we cannot be complicity silent," said Dahbour. "Yes, we inconvenience some people," Dahbour continued. "But you know what, the price we're paying is nothing next to the people dying and being murdered in Gaza."
Because Sunday's session was a lot shorter, Canales said they were prepared for the worst, but the event went as planned without any incident.
(Editor’s Note: This article and video have been updated to correct parts of what Yassar Dahbour was paraphrased as saying.)
Watch more from ABC10: CA Democratic Convention events canceled amid large Gaza ceasefire demonstration
