If you haven’t heard of Nina Turner before this week, you’re probably living under a rock. The once vocal Hillary Clinton supporter who switched teams to feel the Bern, has been burned. Turner, a former Ohio state Senator,was slated to give a speech nominating Bernie Sanders for President Monday night at the Democratic National Convention. The speech was meant to show respect to the Vermont Senator even though Clinton had already secured enough delegates. However, upon arrival to the Wells Fargo Center, she said she was banned from going backstage.
Turner apparently ruffled the wrong feathers and was replaced.
In an interview with Cleveland.com Wednesday, she said, “They would not allow it.”
So why would she be pushed out and replaced?
The DNC nor Sanders camp have responded as to why, but speculation has been that Turner has been a critic of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and there was a silent revolution brewing to nominate her for Vice President, not Tim Kaine. The powers that be were not too fond of this.
Here’s what else Turner had to say about the mishap.
.@NinaTurner on being denied Bernie nomination speaking slot #ImWithNina #DemsInPhilly #DemConvention pic.twitter.com/OzmAv5F8h3
— Jeremy Pelzer (@jpelzer) July 27, 2016
The hashtag #Imwithnina took off on Twitter and by Wednesday afternoon so did a protest outside of the convention. The #ImwithNina protest which included a few celebrities like Danny Glover and Rosario Dawson was small yet took over the DNC media tent. Although Turner showed up late to the party, the small crowd still captured the attention of the press and the story of Nina being ousted was finally out.
On Twitter, people continued to stand with Nina and show support.
Strong progressive Black Women are to be respected no matter who they support. To do otherwise is hypocrisy #DemsInPhilly #StandWithNina
— Lizz Brown (@lizzzbrown) July 27, 2016
Outraged to hear how @ninaturner is being treated at DNC. Silencing dissent does not lead to unity, it leads to tyranny. #ImWithNina
— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) July 27, 2016
“When you silence Nina’s voice, you silence millions of voices” – @YahNeNdgo https://t.co/ncJVOWlTXu #ImWithNina pic.twitter.com/t0eB3lzxgm
— RoseAnn DeMoro (@RoseAnnDeMoro) July 27, 2016
I have a feeling this won’t be the last time we hear from Nina Turner, in the near future or even further down the road in politics. Looks like people aren’t just “with her”, they’re also with Nina.