A record-breaking crowd of over 36,000 gathered in Los Angeles for Senator Bernie Sanders’ rally against the Trump administration’s policies, with performances by iconic musicians Joan Baez and Neil Young.
Tens of thousands of people packed the Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles on Saturday at a rally held in protest against the direction the US is taking under President ‘Donald Trump‘.
The rally formed part of Senator Bernie Sanders‘ ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ tour, which was launched in late February with Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joining in last month.
The gathering featured performances by US musical legends ‘Joan Baez’ and ‘Neil Young‘, among others. Some 36,000 people attended the rally, making it the largest event of its kind organized by Senator Bernie Sanders.
Senator Bernie Sanders described the scene as ‘making Donald Trump and Elon Musk very nervous.’ He stated that the Republican party had largely become a cult of the individual that obeyed every wish of Donald Trump. The senator also mentioned that the Trump administration was making plans for $1.1 trillion in tax breaks for the wealthy.
A Growing Movement Against Authoritarianism
Senator Bernie Sanders told the crowd that the US is ‘rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.’ He described this as a moment where a handful of billionaires control the economic and political life of the country. The senator, who describes himself as a socialist, emphasized that the movement is not about partisan labels or purity tests, but about class solidarity.
Authoritarianism is a form of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a single authority figure.
This can be a monarch, dictator, or other leader who has absolute control over the population.
Key characteristics include suppression of individual rights and freedoms, censorship, and strict control over the media.
Authoritarian regimes often use 'propaganda' to maintain their grip on power and suppress dissent.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, 22% of countries worldwide are considered authoritarian, with China and Russia being prominent examples.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 35, also addressed the crowd, saying ‘No matter your race, religion, gender, identity or status, no matter if you disagree with me on some things… I hope you see that this movement is not about partisan labels or purity tests, but it’s about class solidarity.’.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Puerto Rican-American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019.
Born on October 13, 1989, in the Bronx, New York, she rose to prominence with her surprise victory over incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley in the 2018 Democratic primary.
Ocasio-Cortez is a key figure in the Democratic Socialists of America and has advocated for progressive policies such as Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
A Call to Action
Senator Bernie Sanders later made an unexpected appearance at the Coachella music festival, where he told the audience: ‘I’m not gonna be long, but this country faces some very difficult challenges and the future of what happens to America depends on your generation. You can turn away and ignore what goes on, but you do it at your own peril.’ The ‘Fighting Oligarch’ rallies have been held in several big cities, including Denver and Phoenix, drawing large crowds.
As the opposition to President ‘Donald Trump‘ grows, citizens are becoming increasingly disappointed with the Democratic Party‘s lack of resistance to his policies. These include huge cuts to government and research funding, anti-immigration policies, and climate crisis denial, which have provoked widespread concern at home and abroad.
