The MFJS Reporter — Winter 2020 T-R

The crowd was ruthlessly loud, and thunderous chants often filled the room, sometimes unprovoked, and sometimes alongside a speaker’s request for call and response.

When Sanders did take the stage, at 6:37 P.M. that night, he began by introducing his wife.

“Let me introduce you to the next First Lady,” he said. “Let me thank Mike Pozner for the music. Let me thank Devotchka for their music. Let me thank Emily Sirota for the great work she does in the legislature.”

Throughout the rest of his over 30-minute speech, Sanders highlighted many topics that remain significant to his campaign, putting a large emphasis on education, climate change, and criminal justice.

Sanders’ beliefs when it comes to education have long remained the same, both in terms of youth education and higher education.

“All kids get a quality education regardless of the zip code in which they live in,” Sanders stated. “And because we believe in education, we know that all of our people, regardless of their income, have the right to a higher education.”

Speaking on climate change, Sanders addressed the current fight between scientists and climate denying extremists, specifically noting the forest fires in Australia and California, the increase in droughts, and the rising sea levels. 

He then went on to discuss his own plans for fixing it, saying that he has introduced the most sweeping climate change proposal ever.

“We will create up to 20 million good paying jobs as we move away from fossil fuels,” Sanders claimed. 

Sanders spoke on the flaws of the criminal justice system, explaining how he believes investing in the youth, education, and jobs is much more important than investing in prosecution, and then linking it to the legalization of marijuana.

He received a thunderous applause when mentioning how he would not only legalize marijuana but would also expunge the records of those who were arrested for non-violent drug crimes. 

“We are going to end the so-called war on drugs,” Sanders announced.

Probably the best reaction by the crowd that night was when he defended the women’s right of choice, declaring that he would put Roe v. Wade into law.

“If you believe in getting the government off the back of the American people,” Sanders said, seemingly addressing the members of the Republican party who wish to limit abortion rights, “understand that it is the women who have the right to control their own bodies.”

Sanders ended his speech with positive words, focusing on his campaign’s past success, and his hopes for the future.“We won the popular vote in Iowa, we won the New Hampshire primary, we are looking good in Nevada and South Carolina, and with your help, we are going to win Colorado on Super Tuesday,” Sanders boasted. “We are going to defeat the most dangerous president in modern history, so let’s get out and vote on Super Tuesday, let’s go vote together! Thank you!”