Dispatches from the DNC: Alaskans in Philadelphia - Day 3

ADN reporter Erica Martinson is in Philadelphia covering Alaskans and Alaska issues at the Democratic National Convention.

About last night

Updated 5:15 p.m. (Alaska time)

On Tuesday about half of Alaska's delegates joined, to varying degrees, a walk-out at the Democratic National Convention after the Democratic party officially nominated Hillary Clinton for president.

The movement was driven by delegates for Sen. Bernie Sanders, and led in part by Alaskan Jill Yordy. (Read more about it here.)

A few of Alaska's 14 Sanders delegates stayed put. One stepped out into the hall momentarily, in solidarity. A few others left the building with the group, and hung to the side of the fray. Others were more centrally involved in the "sit-in" style take-over in the center of the media tents just outside the convention hall. Most of them eventually went back into the convention hall to watch the rest of the evening's speakers from their regular seats or elsewhere.

Many delegates from other states did not retake their seats for the rest of the evening, including a group of California delegates who were particularly rowdy Monday night, regularly interrupting speeches with chanting and booing. The Sanders delegates from Alaska did not generally participate in any of that. Several Alaskans said they appreciated the chance to express their frustration with how the DNC handled the primary process without disrupting the proceedings that continued inside the convention hall.

Today, they all picked up their daily convention credentials.  

The delegation heard speeches at breakfast from New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and an official from the Democratic National Committee that were well received.

"I think yesterday went as well as it could have," Yordy said. In the silent walk-out, "I think the Bernie supporters that are here were able to very strongly stand together and say yesterday, 'We are going to continue and we are invested in this, and we are standing up to be part of the process,' " Yordy said.

And the event was meant to be limited, with an eye toward making changes within the Democratic Party, not overthrowing it, Yordy said. "I think the other thing that's important is that people need to approach this with a lot of compassion" because longtime active Democrats have "done it because they're passionate about the Democratic Party and because they, I think genuinely want good things. … So I can't fault them for that," Yordy said. "I can't fault them for having that passion. I would just ask that they approach that with more open minds."

Yordy said she and others among the activists want to help create a party that is more flexible and amenable to the needs of those not entrenched in the system.

Though the effort was fairly dramatic and caught the attention of dozens, perhaps hundreds, of members of the media here for the convention, the "primary goal of the movement … to occupy the media tent was to make sure that it was peaceful and it gave an opportunity for Bernie supporters to be heard," she said. Yordy noted that the Philadelphia police who lined the media tent inside and out "were polite. They were respectful. They were non-forceful. They worked with us. And they trusted us to not be violent, and I really appreciate that."

"I think we had an impact," but only time will tell what kind of change comes to the Democratic Party, Yordy said.

What do you get when you cross a donkey, a fish and a moose? 

Published 3:40 p.m. (Alaska time)

There's no punch line, sorry. But here's the DNC donkey dedicated to Alaska:

The Alaska-themed animal is one of 57 painted, fiberglass donkeys placed around Philadelphia until Aug. 9. The Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee created the project to engage locals and pander to state-based pride while the convention is in town. The donkeys were painted by local artists and each represents a U.S. state. The seven additional donkeys represent Washington, D.C., and the six U.S. territories.

Alaska's artful donkey includes paintings of a moose, Denali, forget-me-not flowers, the aurora borealis, salmon and the gold stars of the Alaska flag. The donkey was decorated by Philadelphia artist Sarah Ryan.

It is at the Sofitel Hotel, 120 S. 17th St. in Philadelphia.