Protesters criticized Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Thursday after the Florida congresswoman cancelled a public rally to attend a private fundraiser in Knoxville, Tenn.
Supporters of Bernie Sanders carried signs opposing a "stacked" DNC, echoing Sanders’ campaign point that the nation’s campaign finance system is broken and that the DNC is biased in favor of Hillary Clinton, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported.
Wasserman Schultz was initially scheduled to attend a public rally put on by the Knox County Democrats, but she backed out to make time for the fundraiser
The dinner cost attendees between $50 and $250 per plate to attend.
"It costs so much to get elected," Barbara Bridges, a member of the Knoxville for Bernie group, told the News Sentinel. "Debbie Wasserman Schultz is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s corruption and our party [is] being captured by a very small number of elite power brokers that are extremely wealthy."
Attendees at the dinner were met at the entrance of the gated community by protestors demanding Wasserman Schultz’s resignation from her position as head of the DNC.
Sanders supporters have long lambasted Wasserman Schultz for allegedly favoring Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton throughout the presidential primary process.
House Democrats met last week to determine whether the DNC chair had become too divisive to lead the party into its July national convention.
Tension between Sanders and Clinton supporters over the legitimacy of Wasserman Schultz’s leadership has exacerbated a growing rift among the Democratic party.