Sanders makes local stop at Hutchison Intramural Field

By Dylan Lee,
BlueDevilHUB.com Social Media Editor-in-Chief–

Senator Bernie Sanders was about five minutes late to his own rally, and The HUB knows why. Reliable sources spotted Sanders, who was making a last-minute stop in Davis prior to the California primary on June 7, leaving the local Black Bear Diner on 2nd Street just minutes earlier.

Despite the diner’s penchant for large servings and hearty meals, Sanders showed up to his speech visibly just as hungry for change and victory as most of his supporters, many of whom had been standing in line to see him for hours.

As Sanders made his way to the podium in front of a crowd of 9,068 sweaty, excited and decidedly liberal onlookers, there was no doubt that his trip to Hutchison Intramural Field on UC Davis campus would be special.

UCD students, DHS students and other assorted supporters of the senator were out in full force, braving 97-degree temperatures to pack much of the field around Sanders and the areas nearby. Spectators filled the hill on the side of the ARC Pavilion and the top of a nearby parking structure nearby gave the unmistakable feeling that a movement was in town.

From the moment he set foot on the stage and settled into his unmistakable lean on the podium, Sanders was in complete control of the crowd, firing up his supporters and doing his best to convert those who had come simply to watch such a prominent public figure speak.

Many DHS students, like senior Elena Neale-Sacks, were in attendance to gain exposure and learn more about what Sanders represents.

“Everyone has been going to his rallies and [Sanders’] views are very different from what I’ve seen in the past, so I’m just here to learn more,” Neale-Sacks said.

Sanders’ camp rallies around the cry that his is a “campaign of the people,” and this was apparent from the get-go.

Nearly every sentence that Sanders spoke was a bold statement of intent to revolutionize an aspect of the government, and time and time again his sentiments were met with deafening cheers; the crowd regularly broke out into chants of Sanders’ name.

Nearly every onlooker in the area responded loudly with “27 dollars” when Sanders asked how large his average campaign contribution was, and he was quick to point out that his campaign is on a record-setting pace with regard to the number of contributions he received.

His campaign has received more than two million individual donations thus far–more than any campaign in history.

Sanders recklessly mocked presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump’s intelligence and ideas, and threw slightly less-aggressive jabs at Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton along the way.

“I know that my good friend Donald Trump has come to impart some wisdom upon you,” Sanders said. “Donald has come to the conclusion that there is no drought, and he has come to tell you.”

Sanders’ heavy Brooklyn accent dripped with sarcasm as he proceeded to satirize Trump’s views on climate change and women’s rights.

Sanders wrapped up his speech by imploring his supporters to vote in the upcoming primary.

“When there is a large voter turnout, we win,” he noted.

DHS senior Emily Merten, a Sanders supporter, enjoyed the rally.

“I loved seeing so many people come together and give their support to a cause that is so much bigger than the Davis community,” Merten said.