More than 5,000 supporters of Bernie Sanders packed the TCF Center for a campaign rally on Friday evening, ahead of Michigan’s primary on Tuesday.
Sanders was introduced by national surrogate Dr Cornel West, who told the crowd that the Sanders campaign is a love train. “We coming out swinging and we swinging in the name of love and justice, not hatred and revenge,” Dr West said.
Representative Rashida Tlaib, who represents Michigan’s 13th District in Congress, also spoke at the rally, telling the crowd that “2020 is about showing up for others. When you cast that vote, please note that vote is not just for you.”
Detroit City Council President Pro Tempore Mary Sheffield announced her endorsement of Sanders at the rally. “Let’s march into the voting booth this Tuesday to burn down the walls of oppression, to burn down the walls of inequality and inequity,” Sheffield said.
“Lets burn down the walls to the systems that create and exacerbate abject poverty, and let’s burn down the walls of establishment politics that fail to deliver for the working and middle class people.”
Sanders hit out at Joe Biden’s long, and checkered record in the Senate, criticizing his support for the Iraq war. “I opposed that war, Joe Biden voted for that war,” Sanders told the crowd.
“I have to say that on this issue, the right of women to control their own bodies, Joe Biden has not been consistent, and in fact has not had a good record.” Sanders quoted comments from Joe Biden, criticizing the Supreme Court’s Roe v Wade decision.
“I am proud to tell you that I am a 100 percent pro-choice candidate,” Sanders assured supporters, to rapturous applause.
Sanders also brought up his vote against the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented same-sex couples from getting married. “25 years ago, I voted against that bill, because I believed then, and I believe now, that people have the right to marry whoever they want, regardless of their gender.”
“Joe Biden voted for that bill.”
“We are going to win this campaign, we are going to win here in Michigan, because the people of this state, and of this country, are sick and tired of an economy and a government that works for the 1 percent. They want an economy that works for working families.”
Michigan is one of six states to vote on March 10, along with Washington, Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho and North Dakota.
