Sanders backers gather to protest Dems' convention, party says it abided by rules

11:30 A.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: About 200 Bernie Sanders supporters gathered this morning at the closed Nevada State Democratic offices on Dean Martin Drive to protest actions at the convention on Saturday. Their complaints centered on concerns about not being heard by the chairwoman and the credentialing approval process for the convention.

The state party released the following statement Saturday evening and again Sunday morning:

"Any insinuation of unfairness is totally inaccurate. The Nevada State Democratic Party abided by the unanimous rules set forth by the Credentials Committee, which was comprised of party leaders and officials with an equal division of both Clinton and Sanders campaign supporters."

7:50 A.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: The unruly Democratic state convention continued well past the planned adjournment Saturday night with security concerns forcing an end to the Nevada Democratic Party State Convention about 10 p.m.

A statement emailed Sunday morning from Stewart Boss, spokesman for the Nevada State Democratic Party:

"The director of security for the Paris Las Vegas Hotel informed the state party and representatives from both presidential campaigns that the property could no longer provide the necessary security under conditions made unruly and unpredictable. Paris Las Vegas Hotel security requested a prompt conclusion to the event. Therefore, recognizing the business still to be conducted by the convention, the state party chairwoman accepted a motion to agree to the party leader and elected official and at-large delegate slates as submitted by the presidential campaigns. She also accepted a motion to adopt and elect the State Central Committee pursuant to the rules as submitted by the county party chairs. This allowed the state party to properly adjourn the state convention."

Metro police had to be brought in Saturday evening to create a larger layer of security around the podium before the convention was brought to a close about 10 p.m.

This was a blend of politics and passion.

Off the bat, it did not look like a state party headed for unity, with Sanders supporters complaining of unfair rules and long lines that kept their supporters from getting into the convention, held at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

"There were a lot of people who want to be a part of this process, but they want to make sure that it's fair, and so the old guard is really going to have to reach out and work very hard to bring these young people here so we have them in November," said Erin Bilbray, a Sanders supporter.

The state party says both campaigns were treated fairly.

Clinton may have won the democratic caucus but it was still a fight here at the democratic state convention Saturday as both campaigns fought over the final maker of Nevada's delegation in Philadelphia.

"When I was waiting to come in, I was waiting with a woman who supported Bernie, but she's a Democrat first. And so we had a very engaging conversation, very calm, very peaceful, discussed the issues, and at the end of the day we both agree we need to put a Democrat in the White House," said Bill Reif, a Clinton supporter.

At the end of the day, the Clinton campaign turned out more supporters here, enabling Clinton to regain her 20 to 15 delegate split over Sanders that she saw in February.

The challenge now is to unify a party with two very passionate campaigns.

A final count for the delegates present at the state convention had 1,695 for Clinton and 1,662 for Sanders.

The Nevada democrats now march to Philadelphia for the national convention July 25-28.

There are 35 delegates representing the state, plus eight superdelegates. Of those superdelegates, four support Clinton, one supports Sanders, and three are undeclared.

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