Many topics brought up by speakers throughout the event focused on Sander’s main campaign goals. These include universal healthcare, support for the Green New Deal, student loan forgiveness and other programs designed to help the working class. As stated by Sanders, his campaign is designed, “by the working class, of the working class, and for the working class.”
“Not me. Us!” the crowd shouted throughout the event. The statement has been a large part of the Sanders campaign, reinforcing his political values aimed at helping the public rather than the private sector.
Sanders is a self-identified democratic socialist meaning his campaign platform is much more left-leaning than other, more centrist, candidates like Amy Klobuchar.
The crowd was high in energy during the speeches despite waiting in long lines to enter the venue as well as the long wait for the speakers to begin. Throughout the event, the crowd roared in support of the issues they supported.
“The issue of climate change is a fundamental, moral issue. We have a moral responsibility to make certain that the country and planet we leave future generations is healthy and habitable.” This statement by Sanders garnered a particularly loud cheer of approval from the crowd.
The attending audience appeared to be fairly diverse. It did not appear that the demographic of the crowd was skewed with one group being in drastically higher attendance than another.
Sanders has held several rallies in Denver prior to this one. Previously, a rally was held in September of 2019 in Denver’s civic center park.
“The only way that change ever takes place in this country is from the bottom-up, not the top-down,” a statement by Sanders which garnered cheers from the crowed reinforces his campaign promise to focus on the American working class rather than the private sector.
During the event, Sanders also spoke out against President Donald Trump as well as fellow democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg. Sanders claimed that Bloomberg, a politician and businessman, is trying to use his private wealth to fund his presidential campaign. “Democracy, to me, means one person, one vote. Not Bloomberg or anybody else spending hundreds of millions of dollars trying to buy an election,” said Sanders.
Sanders has been criticized in the past for his far left-leaning ideologies which some argue are too radical for the current American public. In addition, many are cautious of Sanders as a presidential nominee because of his age and possible health concerns. Just a few months ago Sanders suffered a heart attack.
Despite criticisms of Sanders, many attendees of Sunday’s rally appeared to be in full support of the former Vermont Senator. Many people at the event could be seen wearing t-shirts and hats or toting signs which displayed support for the candidate.
“Don’t tell anybody, but I think we’re gonna win here in Colorado!” stated Sanders during his speech.
The MFJS Reporter -- Winter 2020 T-R 