By Paul Bean
Senator Bernie Sanders made a surprise appearance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on Saturday night.
In an impressive effort for the 83 year old, Sen Sanders has been across the country for his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, including a reported crowd of 36,000 people over the weekend in Los Angeles alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Before music performer Clairo’s performance Saturday evening, he made a surprise appearance at Coachella, urging young festival-goers to stand up against ‘economic inequality, climate change, and threats to women’s rights.’
“This country faces some very difficult challenges,” said Sanders to the crowd of young festival attendees. “The future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation. You can turn away and ignore what goes on, but if you do that, you do it at your own peril.”
Sanders was introduced by Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress. The senator’s speech touched on typical ‘Bernie’ related issues including economic inequality, climate change, women’s rights, and healthcare.
Sen. Sanders mentioned President Donald Trump, which prompted loud boos from the audience. Bernie replied,“I agree. He thinks climate change is a hoax. He is dangerously wrong, and you and I are going to have to stand up to the fossil fuel industry and tell them to stop destroying this planet.”
Sanders also praised performer Clairo, for her activism, noting her advocacy for women’s rights and her calls to ‘end the war in Gaza.’
“I’m here because Clairo has used her prominence to fight for justice,” he said. “We need you to stand up and fight for economic justice, social justice, and racial justice.”
“We have an economy today that works well for the billionaire class, but not for working families,” said Sanders. The Coachella stop ended a busy day for Sanders, who earlier joined New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for a “Fighting Oligarchy” rally at Los Angeles’ Gloria Molina Grand Park. That event drew an estimated 36,000 people, the largest crowd of Sanders’ career, according to his team.
Reaction among festival-goers was overwhelmingly positive, with many cheering loudest when Sanders called for protecting women’s rights and reforming a “broken” healthcare system.