“The Whole World Is Watching”: Sanders and AOC Draw Massive Crowd in Denver Rally Against Oligarchy

By Sara Monteith

Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez brought their ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour to Denver on Friday, March 21.

The rally was part of a three-day tour with stops in Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

“In the hundreds of rallies that I have done, we have never ever had a rally as large as this,” said Vermont Sen. Sanders.

An estimated 34,000 people crammed into Denver's Civic Center Park and the surrounding area. Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders held a rally in Greeley, Colorado, earlier in the day that was attended by more than 10,000 individuals.

“It’s nice to see like-minded people that want to try to stop [Donald Trump]. It feels like such a dark time. We get some encouragement knowing we are not alone,” said Laura and Steven McGraw.

The two began attending rallies and protests during Trump’s first term.

The rallies come at a time when Democrats face mounting pressure to present a clear strategy in response to President Trump’s executive actions since his second term began on Jan. 20.

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the fears many Americans are facing with the recent cuts to federal programs.

"The American people are saying loud and clear, we will not accept an oligarchic form of society," Sanders said. "We will not accept the richest guy in the world running all over Washington, making cuts to the Social Security Administration, cuts to the Veterans Administration, almost destroying the Department of Education—all so that they could give over a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest 1%.”

While acknowledging the mental toll the changes in the government over the last nine weeks have taken on many, Ocasio-Cortez reminded the crowd that they are not powerless.

“People are starting to put the pieces together. The same billionaires who are taking a wrecking ball to our country derive their power from dividing working people apart,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “The last thing they want is for us to realize that the real division and the real harm in this country is how endless greed is costing the lives of everyone else.”

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the power of organizing within local communities and staying engaged in local elections. Ocasio-Cortez encouraged voters to support candidates who know how to stand for the working class.

“Bernie and AOC are trying to keep people engaged, so we don’t get fatigued. They are keeping us focused on what is important to everyone so we don’t give up,” said Rachel Martinez, a first-generation college graduate.

Denver has seen numerous protests and rallies in the last nine weeks, but Friday’s rally was by far the most well-attended.

“Denver, your presence here today is not just significant for Colorado. You are sending a profound message all over the world. The whole world is watching. And they want to know if the people of America are going to stand up to Trumpism, Oligarchy and authoritarianism,” Sanders said.