PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Latest on the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia (all times EDT):

5:50 p.m.

Bernie Sanders may have asked his supporters as a "personal courtesy" not to protest at the Democratic convention — but not everyone's willing to heed that request.

Michigan delegate Bruce Fealk says he understands Sanders' position and understands why the Vermont senator is making the request.

But Fealk also says: "I'm really annoyed. ... I haven't decided yet. I want to support Bernie, but I also want to voice my displeasure with the Democratic Party."

Fealk says he sees the hacked party emails as a revelation, and says they show the party's disrespect for progressives.

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5:35 p.m.

A Bernie Sanders supporter has taken the stage at the Democratic convention and has two missions.

Diane Russell — a Maine lawmaker — is trying to sell delegates on the compromise that's been reached on the future role of superdelegates in the nominating process.

And she's stressing her support for Hillary Clinton.

Russell led an effort to abolish superdelegates — they're the party insiders who can cast their convention vote for the candidate of their choice.

She's using her convention speech to praise a deal by the party's rules committee that establishes a commission" to review the nominating process.

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5:25 p.m.

A Democratic official says Bernie Sanders' campaign has urgently reached out to Hillary Clinton's team to express concerns that tensions are still raw among Sanders delegates.

They're fuming about hacked party emails that already have led to the ouster of the head of the Democratic National Committee, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Aides to Clinton and Sanders have met in hopes of forming a plan to avoid excessive disruptions on the convention floor.

The Democratic official spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private discussions.

Sanders has sent out a text message and an email to delegates urging them not to engage in protests on the floor as a "personal courtesy" to him.

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5:05 p.m.

Bernie Sanders is urging supporters not to demonstrate on the floor of the Democratic National Convention.

He's sending out text messages and emails with his personal request.

Sanders is characterizing the request "as a personal courtesy to me" and urging his followers to "not engage in any kind of protest on the floor."

The Vermont senator says it is of the "utmost importance" that this be explained to the state delegations.

Sanders say "our credibility as a movement will be damaged by booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays."

The challenger to Hillary Clinton is speaking later Monday at the Philadelphia convention.

It comes as many of his supporters contend the Democratic National Committee failed to be neutral during the primaries.

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5 p.m.

The Ohio congresswoman who's the chair of the Democratic National Convention is getting an earful from a rowdy group of delegates in the convention's opening moments.

During Marcia Fudge's opening remarks, she is being halted by boos and chants from Bernie Sanders' delegates at any mention of presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

But also cheers — from Clinton's supporters. At one point, there were chants of "Let her speak!"

Fudge is asking for respect and promising to deliver it in turn.

She says, "We are all Democrats and we need to act like it."

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4:55 p.m.

Donald Trump is suggesting China may have been involved in the hack of the Democratic National Committee's email system — even though there's no evidence to indicate Chinese involvement.

Trump made the comment at an event in Virginia — and it comes in reference to the decision by Democratic National Committee head Debbie Wasserman Schultz to step down in the wake of the email disclosure.

Here's what Trump said, with sarcasm: "Little did she know that China, Russia — one of our many, many friends — came in and hacked the hell out of us."

The cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike Inc. discovered traces of at least two sophisticated hacking groups on the Democrats' network — and both have ties to the Russian government.

Trump's campaign has laughed off suggestions that the Russians may be trying to influence the election in the Republican's favor.

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4:50 p.m.

Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton made a mistake when she picked Tim Kaine as her running mate. Trump says the Virginia senator is "the opposite" of what supporters of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders wanted.

Trump says Clinton should have picked a more liberal running mate to satisfy Sanders' supporters.

Trump calls Kaine "a weird little dude" and a political "hack," and says Kaine's record is far eclipsed by that of the GOP vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov, Mike Pence.

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4:45 p.m.

The Democratic National Committee is offering its "deep and sincere apology" to Bernie Sanders, his supporters and the entire party for what it calls "the inexcusable remarks made over email."

The statement from incoming interim party leader, Donna Brazile, and six other officials says the comments in the emails "do not reflect the values of the DNC or our steadfast commitment to neutrality during the nominating process."

The statement says the party won't tolerate disrespectful language.

The statement wasn't signed by the outgoing DNC head, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

She announced on Sunday that she'd step down from that job at the end of this week's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The emails suggested party officials favored Clinton over rival Sanders during the primaries.

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4:15 p.m.

Democrats have gaveled in their convention in Philadelphia — after a day of discord that sent the party chief into exile.

It was Baltimore's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who called the 47th Democratic convention to order. Her formal welcome was briefly extended by a slight oversight — she left the podium without actually pounding the gavel, then hurried back to pick up the gavel and perform the task.

Rawlings-Blake is a last-minute fill-in Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the ousted Democratic National Committee leader.

The Florida congresswoman was forced out of her post by a trove of leaked emails that appeared to show DNC officials favored Hillary Clinton over Sanders in their fierce primary fight. She's set to step down from the party job after the convention.

Rawlings-Blake serves as secretary of the DNC.

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4 p.m.

Donald Trump says the Democrats' outgoing party head, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, is "highly over-rated," and he's accusing Hillary Clinton of throwing Wasserman Schultz "under the bus."

Trump tells supporters in Roanoke, Virginia, that Clinton's "disloyalty was incredible" for allowing Wasserman Schultz to be pushed out.

Her exit comes after the release of hacked emails that suggest some Democratic National Committee staff members favored Clinton over primary rival Bernie Sanders.

Trump claims Wasserman Schultz "worked very hard to rig the system" in Clinton's favor.

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3:34 p.m.

Hillary Clinton says she opposes a Senate bill that would slow growth rates for housing and education benefits for veterans.

Some veterans groups call that a cut because benefits may not keep up with inflation.

Clinton tells the Veterans of Foreign Wars Monday that she'd fight against the cuts. They're part of a bill to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs and make it easier to fire employees for wrongdoing.

Clinton faults Republicans for "chipping away" at veterans benefits.

Republicans point out that 28 Democrats have co-sponsored the Senate bill, including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton's newly announced running mate.

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3:31 p.m.

Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence, are holding their first campaign event since the GOP convention.

The setting is a town hall event in Roanoke, Virginia.

Trump is planning a busy week of events as the Democrats hold their convention in Philadelphia.

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2:38 p.m.

The White House is pitching first lady Michelle Obama's speech Monday night as a barometer of party unity.

Democrats are trying to overcome anger from Bernie Sanders supporters to the leaked emails indicating staffers at the Democratic National Committee favored Hillary Clinton in the primary race.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says he's confident the first lady will be warmly received at the Democratic National Convention. He says the first lady will give voice to the values and agenda that the Obama administration has pursued over the past seven years.

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This story has been corrected to reflect that the Baltimore forgot to use the gavel to open the convention, not that she forget to bring it on stage.