Illinois feels the Bern
March 14, 2016
February 26 — the Friday before super Tuesday — more than 6,000 ardent supporters flocked the perimeter of Argo High School located in Summit, IL.
Among these supporters were men, women and children from all walks of life — nurses, veterans, senior citizens, college students and business people all passionately displaying their dedication to the one thing they have in common — the Bernie Sanders campaign.
After introductions from Cook County Commissioner Chuy Garcia and Jonathan L. Jackson, Son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recalled Sanders’ time spent fighting for civil rights and his participation in the march on Washington alongside Martin Luther King Jr., Sanders began his speech.
Presidential candidate Sanders covered topics ranging from health care and immigration to equal pay for women and climate change.
The crowd was constantly cheering and chanting “Bernie, Bernie” in response to his strong, empowering statements.
“It is not a radical idea to say that if somebody in America works 40 hours a week, that person should not be living in poverty,” Sanders said during his remarks.
The Bernie 2016 campaign has broken multiple records, most notably that of most individual contributions with the average donation being $47. The movement also boasts the large support of young people and first time voters, personified by the slogan “A Future to Believe In”.
“What this campaign is about is bringing our people together — Not letting Donald Trump or anyone else divide us up,” Sanders said.
In his speech, he also drew many comparisons between himself and his democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, along with his republican adversaries specifically, Donald Trump.
“We are not going to hate Mexicans, we are not going to hate Muslims, we are not going to hate women. We are not going to insult veterans and African-Americans,” Sanders said.
Ironically, at the same time this rally was in progress, news was beginning to spread of the cancelled Trump rally at University of Illinois at Chicago. Attendees were overjoyed by this news and began to post to social media with the hashtag, “#NotInMyCity”, in reference to not allowing the racism, hatred, and violence that undeniably follows Trump, into Chicago.
The night was concluded by a genial rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” by Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, and a reminder to get out, vote, and have your voice heard on March 15.