Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending a Bernie rally in
L.A. It was one of the best experiences of my life.
With the California Primary just days away, Bernie rallied for one of the last times in the state right here in L.A.
The rally was supposed to be held at the Greek Theatre in
Hollywood, but Bernie was booted literally the evening before it was to take
place. Bernie's presidential campaign accused a Los Angeles city councilman who
backs Hillary Clinton of obstructing his effort to hold his rally at the Greek,
but that didn't stop neither Bernie nor his supporters of making it happen. The
rally was moved to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and myself, along with 13
thousand other people showed up to support.
The coliseum is a historic landmark, having hosted
everything from two Olympic Games, two Super Bowls, a World Series and one of
the most famous Democratic presidential nomination acceptance speeches of the
20th century by John F. Kennedy. I was, however, most humbled to be in place
where many of my idols and political icons like Nelsen Mandela, Martin Luther
King Jr and Ceasar Chavez have spoken. Bernie Sanders is now officially added
to the list of revolutionary icons to have given speeches there, and I am so
excited to have been a part of that history.
Let me tell you, the rally had energy- the kind of
old-school, 1960's love energy. It was electric, passionate and so much fun.
People were excited, hopeful and in it to fight for the rights of all people,
communities, the earth and everything they believed in. Everyone there was
fighting for what was right, fighting for love.
Bernie himself is all-encompassing, sincere and just pure
love. He makes you feel like he is like you and you are like him, and that we
are all in this together. He leaves you with a feeling of being uplifted,
re-energized- with a feeling of hope, no matter what happens in the election. I
stood 40 feet from him while he delivered his speech, but you could feel that
as the person 13 thousand people away from him.
I had chills from the top of my head to the tips of my toes the entire
time. Being in front of Bernie in the flesh, surrounded by energetic, all
accepting, grass roots supporters was like nothing I have every experienced.
California has had a record surge in voter registration, and
as of Friday, Bernie had a 44 to 43 percent lead over Hillary. I can only hope
that everyone in California gets out and votes in Tuesday's primary. With a whopping 475
delegates (the most of any state), the California primary is so important. But whether Bernie takes it
home on Tuesday or not, we are in this until the very end.
Photo: LAist
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