Vermont Senator and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders came to the Boston Commons on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020 for a rally as Super Tuesday approaches. This rally came just one day after Sanders visited Springfield, MA for another rally, in an attempt to recruit voters before the key moment in primary season approaches this week. The doors opened at 11 a.m., and the rally was scheduled to begin at noon. A crowd of more than 13,000 people (according to his campaign team) came to support Sanders, holding up “Bernie” signs as they cheered for his stance on various issues such as universal healthcare, free college and affordable housing for all. As noon came and went, numerous other speakers, such as Massachusetts State Representative Mike Connolly, took the stage to get the ball rolling before Sanders came on. Chants like “not me, us!” was a popular slogan they used to convey the message of equality for all people, not simply whatever helps our own best interest. A moment of silence for the indigenous people whose rightful land the crowd stood on was very powerful, as a crowd of thousands fell silent, paying their respects to those who have suffered in the name of our country.
At 12:30 p.m., Senator Sanders took the stage for thirty minutes to share his stance on issues he planned to tackle if elected President of The United States. Something important that Sanders recognizes is that the money he has raised in his campaign did not come from billionaires trying to buy him out, but from the American people who believe in what he stands for. As Sanders first began his speech, he said, “We have raised more contributions from more Americans at this point in the campaign, than any campaign in the history of America … This campaign is one of the working class, by the working class, and for the working class.” He then unified those in the country who are not benefiting from the system that is in place currently by saying, “the people in this country from Boston to California are sick of a government that represents the wealthy and the powerful. We are going to create a government and economy that represents all of us”.
Sanders spoke of the fear that is rising in the billionaire pharmaceutical companies that hold power in the government, as they will lose money in order to provide free healthcare to all. Beyond this, military and industrial complexes are beginning to worry as well as Sanders wants to “stop the endless wars” and the money that goes along with maintaining the countries militia. He acknowledged that his critics didn’t believe he could beat Trump, to which he said “check out the last 70 national polls in America, and we win 65 of them!” Furthermore, as polls in Massachusetts come out, such as one released on Friday by WBUR, Sanders is projected at 25 percent while Elizabeth Warren, the current state senator, is only projected at 17 percent. These numbers reflect the lack of campaign Warren has put into Massachusetts, potentially causing her to lose the very state she is the Senator of.
Some other issues that Sanders addressed included gun violence, gentrification, immigration, and medical bills that have caused over “500,000 Americans to claim bankruptcy” in order to pay for hospital bills, medication, deductibles, and more. His campaign is working against this flaw in the system, with a solution of universal healthcare. Beyond this, he said America can fix the gun problems it has by dictating its regulations by the people, instead of by the NRA and its funding.
Super Tuesday, or the Presidential Primary, is approaching on March 3, 2020 for Massachusetts. If you’re registered to vote, make sure to go out and vote at your local polls on Tuesday, as they each will be open between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Remember, every vote counts, and if you want to have a voice in the future of our country, no matter where you stand politically, now is your chance to go out and exercise your right this week.