Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally thousands in LA
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, in fiery speeches, told an estimated crowd of tens of thousands in downtown Los Angeles to stand up for the working class.
The progressive duo said that together the public can defeat President Donald Trump and his wealthy allies, who, they said, are more interested in enriching themselves than helping the American people.
The Saturday, April 12, event was the latest stop for Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez as part of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. Sanders estimated 36,000 people attended the rally.
The two have been barnstorming the country in recent weeks, hoping to fire up Americans upset about actions by the Trump administration, such as budget cuts — which they fear will gut Medicaid, Social Security and other social safety net programs — and tariffs that have them worried about a potential recession.
For Trump critics, it’s not just that the impacts could hit working-class Americans in the pocketbooks; they say critical programs are being gutted in order to fund tax breaks for the wealthy, including billionaires whom Trump critics accuse of running the country.
“We’re living in a moment where a handful of billionaires control the economic and political life. … We’re living in a moment where the president has no understanding or respect for the constitution of the United States, and let us make no doubt about it, moving us rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society,” Sanders said from Gloria Molina Grand Park.
“And, Mr. Trump, we ain’t going down,” he said to cheers.
Corrin Rankin, chair of the California Republican Party, issued a statement ahead of the rally, condemning the so-called “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
“Californians are tired of the empty theatrics from Democrats,” Rankin said. “According to the polls, and the vibe shift felt throughout the state, voters are now turning to Republicans for real solutions to California’s problems and a better quality of life. While the left plays dress-up, we’re focused on results.”
Before Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders took the stage in the afternoon, the throngs of people were soaking in the sun and mid-70-degree weather as they took comfort in surrounding themselves with like-minded people.
Attendees said they have been feeling discouraged with the direction the country is headed in and came to the rally for a “safe place” to express their feelings or to find solace in grieving collectively.
Tracy Setto, 32, of Palmdale, said she’s neither a morning person nor enjoys being in crowds.
Yet she forced herself to wake up early on a Saturday to come to the rally because, she said, “I needed this right now. It’s been despair every day. And being around all these people and hearing these messages is helpful right now.”
Setto, who voted for Sanders for president in 2016 and 2020 and even volunteered for his 2020 campaign, said she was looking forward even more to hearing from Ocasio-Cortez since Setto views the New York representative as the Democratic Party’s future and wants to learn more about her positions.
Another Antelope Valley resident, Monica Carreon of Lancaster, woke at 5 a.m. to get ready to head to downtown L.A.
The 55-year-old college counselor, who, like Setto, voted for Sanders the two times he ran for president, had on a blue Bernie Sanders T-shirt. She was elated as she pointed out the diversity among rally goers.
“You see your old hippies and you see your young kids,” she said, gesturing toward the crowd. “Some people think he (Sanders) is going to polarize us, but look at the crowd. There’s gay, straight, married moms and dads with kids. I’m really soaking up the crowd.”
Sanders, an independent, and Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat, are both progressives.
Ocasio-Cortez called upon her own party to do more on Saturday.
“We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too,” she said, urging those in the crowd to vote for Democrats “who know how to stand for the working class.”
Saturday’s rally helped renew for Asia Nguyen, 22, a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Ohio, a sense of hope in light of all that’s going on in the country politically.
“I’ve been really frustrated, and I haven’t been able to do anything about it. … At least we’re taking the time to feel how we feel and decompress,” she said about sharing the moment with thousands at Gloria Molina Grand Park.
Stevie Palmateer, 35, gave a similar reason for attending Saturday’s rally.
“I have felt very hopeless as a queer person,” said Palmateer, who identifies as non-binary. The part-time L.A. resident said attending the rally was one way to feel more in control of what is happening in the country.
“This felt like a very small actionable thing I could do,” Palmateer said.
Rally goers were asked not to bring signs to the event, but that didn’t stop people from making political statements with their wardrobe.
One man wore a black-and-white T-shirt with a picture of the U.S. flag on the front below the words, “We are not OK.” On the back, the shirt read: “Deport MAGA. Keep the immigrants.”
And vendors hawking wares outside the event were selling hats that read “Smash the Oligarchy” and political pins that read “Notorious A.O.C.” and “AOC 2028” to promote Ocasio-Cortez, who’s often known her initials.
Saturday’s rally marked a rare moment when Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez made a stop in a heavily Democratic city.
Most of their appearances have been to areas represented by Republicans, as they hope to flip the seats blue in the midterms or look ahead to the 2028 presidential election.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are scheduled to appear at a rally in Salt Lake City on Sunday and in Nampa, Idaho, on Monday. The pair will then return to California for rallies in Bakersfield and Folsom on Tuesday.