Bernie Sanders rocked the Bronx on Thursday night as an estimated
15,000 people thronged St. Mary’s Park in Mott Haven for the Democratic
presidential candidate’s first major New York rally.
The air was electric and had the feel of a summer concert as supporters
filled the park and surrounding streets to listen to Sanders boast
about his Brooklyn roots and share his populist message.
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“This campaign is about creating a political revolution,” Sanders told
the gathering. “You are the heart and soul of this revolution.”
The Vermont senator drew huge cheers from the predominantly young crowd
as he promised to invest in education, infrastructure and health care.
“Real change takes place when millions of people look around them and say the status quo is unacceptable,” Sanders said.
“Where we are right now is a pivotal point in our country’s history.”
Sanders’ Brooklyn accent and his “us versus them” attitude resonated
with the South Bronx crowd as he promised to take on Wall Street and
reform the criminal justice system. He slammed primary rival Hillary
Clinton for her ties to Wall Street.
“Bernie Sanders is for us, he’s not trying to hand it all to the big
banks,” said Nicole Revis, 32, a correction officer from the Bronx. “We
have people out here who kill themselves to barely put food on the
table. Bernie represents us.”
Sanders, who hails from Flatbush, received a star-studded welcome from
the likes of director Spike Lee, actress Rosario Dawson and
Grammy-winner Residente.
In a surprise move before his speech, Sanders addressed an overflow
crowd of about 2,000 people who were outside the official event area.
“It looks like the South Bronx is prepared to tell the billionaire
class that they cannot have it all,” he greeted the attendees. “It looks
like the South Bronx wants to create an economy that works for all of
us not just the 1%.”
Sanders’ popularity among young voters was clear by the turnout — but he
will have to widen his appeal to remain relevant in the race for the
White House.
Sanders needs to win a majority of New York’s 291 delegates on April 19
to keep the possibility of winning the party’s nomination within reach.
Clinton leads Sanders in the overall delegate count.
The Bronx wasn’t the only part of the city feeling the Bern on Thursday.
Ben & Jerry’s founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield dished up
sundaes made with “Bernie’s Yearning,” a mint chocolate chip flavor
named after the candidate.
Earlier in the day, Clinton laced into Donald Trump — while also taking
a shot at Sanders — over the GOP front-runner’s shocking remarks about
punishing women who seek abortions.
“He showed us exactly who he is and we should believe him,” Clinton
said of Trump during a rally at SUNY Purchase. She then blasted Sanders.
“Last night, Sen. Sanders said that those comments were distractions
from a serious discussion about the serious issues facing America,” she
said. “To me, this is a serious issue and it’s a serious discussion.”
More than 300 people turned out for Clinton’s speech, but in the middle
of it, roughly 50 Sanders supporters stood up and walked out, shouting,
“If she wins, we lose.”
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