At L.A. rally, Bernie Sanders says U.S. facing ‘extraordinary danger’

Introduction to the Rally

Channeling the rage and frustration of progressive Californians, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders told tens of thousands of people in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday that the country is in a moment of “extraordinary danger.” Clad in a blue button-down shirt and a Dodgers baseball cap, Sanders, 83, said President Trump is moving the country “rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society,” firing up a crowd that stretched out of Grand Park, onto the steps of City Hall and into the surrounding streets. “Mr. Trump,” Sanders said, “we ain’t going there.”

The Event and Its Significance

The hours-long event featured Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and a long lineup of progressive elected officials, labor leaders and musicians, including Neil Young, Joan Baez and singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. Sanders’ team said the Los Angeles rally drew 36,000 people, his largest ever. An estimated 36,000 people attend the Fighting Oligarchy rally at Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The Message of Resistance

“I don’t have to tell anyone here that this is a difficult moment in the modern history of our country,” Sanders said. “We’ve never gone through anything like this, but … despair is not an option. Giving up and hiding under the covers is not acceptable. The stakes are just too high.” Trump and his allies are watching the size of the rallies, Sanders said, and “you are scaring the hell out of them.”

The "Fighting Oligarchy" Tour

With the exception of Los Angeles and Denver, Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has mostly stopped in areas represented by Republican members of Congress that the Democrats hope to oust in the 2026 election. The tour kicked off in Omaha in late February and has also made stops in Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado. Sanders said he is hiring organizers in some of those districts, including in Iowa and Nebraska.

Resonance with Democrats

Sanders hasn’t changed his talking points much since his campaigns for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. But his classic refrains about the power of “the millionaires and the billionaires” and the wealth of the 1% have found new resonance with Democrats angered by the second Trump administration. Billionaire Elon Musk is trying to upend the federal government through his Department of Government Efficiency, working to end contracts, fire workers and dismantle and eliminate agencies and departments.

The Democratic Party’s Popularity

The Sanders rallies come as the Democratic Party’s popularity continues to sag. One CNN poll conducted in early March found that the party’s popularity is at an all-time low of 29%, down from 33% in January, a dip driven primarily by frustrated Democrats. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez waves to a cheering crowd while making the stage at the Fighting Oligarchy rally. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Attendees’ Sentiments

“Everybody has been a disappointment, even the ones we had thought wouldn’t be,” said Lisa Pitchon-Getzels, 70, of Tarzana. She and her husband, Morris Getzels, 73, wore matching black T-shirts with a red slash through Trump’s face and the slogan: “Resist hate.” Getzels and Pitchon-Getzels, who are both retired, said they were using their free time to send emails, make phone calls, write postcards and attend marches, trying to mobilize elected officials and their neighbors.

Sanders’ Critique of Democrats

Sanders, a political independent who caucuses with the Senate Democrats, said in an interview that in the two years before Trump was reelected, Democrats held a slim majority in the House but achieved “virtually nothing.” “In too many instances, the Democrats come across as the party of the status quo,” Sanders said. “They’re not prepared to take on the corporate system and the oligarchy which is causing so much pain in this country.” Sen. Bernie Sanders, left, singer Joan Baez and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wave to the Fighting Oligarchy rally crowd. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Festival Atmosphere and Broader Appeal

The gathering Saturday had a festival atmosphere. Content creators pulled attendees aside for man-on-the-street video interviews, some using the tiny microphones popular on TikTok. The crowd was a gallery of T-shirts and hats from the 2016 and 2020 Bernie campaigns, classic rock bands and unions representing healthcare, Hollywood and construction workers. Many in the audience also came to hear Ocasio-Cortez, 35, a sharp, politically savvy Democratic socialist once at the fringes of the Democratic Party who is now broadening her national appeal.

Ocasio-Cortez’s Message

Ocasio-Cortez told the crowd that the “toxic fear and division” they felt on social media and their struggles to afford everyday expenses were the “logical, inevitable conclusion of an American political system dominated by corporate and dark money.” “All of this is what it means, and what it feels like, to be governed by billionaires,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “This is what oligarchy feels like. And it can only get worse until we act.”

Attendees’ Reactions and Future Actions

Teresa Wynne-Rose of Thousand Oaks arrived downtown at 6 a.m. to secure a spot at the front of the crowd with her 20-year-old daughter Zoe. About 20 feet from the podium, the two women waited through hours of musical performances and speeches by prominent progressive officials, including Los Angeles City Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) and Maxwell Frost (D-Florida), the first Gen Z member of Congress. Sen. Bernie Sanders greets supporters at the end of the Fighting Oligarchy rally. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Conclusion

The event was a call to action, with Sanders and other speakers urging attendees to get involved in the political process and fight against the perceived oligarchy. The rally’s success, with its large turnout and energetic atmosphere, suggests that there is a strong desire among progressives for change and a willingness to take action to achieve it. As the Democratic Party continues to navigate its challenges, events like the Fighting Oligarchy rally may play an important role in shaping the party’s direction and energizing its base.

FAQs

• Q: How many people attended the Los Angeles rally?
  A: According to Sanders’ team, the Los Angeles rally drew 36,000 people, his largest ever.
• Q: What is the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour?
  A: The "Fighting Oligarchy" tour is a series of rallies and events organized by Bernie Sanders, aimed at addressing the issue of oligarchy in the United States and promoting progressive policies.
• Q: Who were some of the notable speakers at the rally?
  A: Notable speakers at the rally included Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, singer Joan Baez, and Sen. Bernie Sanders himself.
• Q: What was the overall atmosphere of the rally?
  A: The rally had a festival atmosphere, with musical performances, speeches, and a large, energetic crowd.
• Q: What is the significance of the rally in the context of the Democratic Party’s current challenges?
  A: The rally suggests that there is a strong desire among progressives for change and a willingness to take action to achieve it, which may play an important role in shaping the party’s direction and energizing its base.