Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) started his first campaign rally Saturday on the attack, calling President Trump “the most dangerous president in modern American history.”
“We are going to transform this country and finally create an economy and a government which works for all of us, not just the 1 percent,” he said to applause in his native Brooklyn.
Sanders repeated themes he has sounded since his first presidential campaign shook the Democratic establishment, in 2016.
“The underlying principles of our government will not be greed, hatred and lies,” the self-proclaimed Social Democrat said.
“It will not be racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia and religious bigotry.
“This campaign will be based on justice—on economic justice, on social justice, on racial justice, on environmental justice.”
Sanders checked the boxes for many familiar policy goals, from “Medicare for All” and free public college to a $15 minimum wage and immigration reform.
A crowd of about 13,000 turned up in spite of snowfall earlier in the day.
“I’m here to support the potential of a movement that lives up to the values that I have,” said Edward Kramer, 40, of Brooklyn.
The senator hammered at corporations and the wealthy, criticizing wages and working conditions at Walmart and Amazon. He pledged everyone will pay their “fair share” of taxes if he wins.
Sanders also sounded off on the environment, saying, “Climate change is not a hoax, but it is an existential threat.”
Sanders faces far different competition than in 2016, when he was the upstart challenger to Hillary Clinton.
The crowded field of Democratic candidates includes his ideological rival Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, along with Sens. Cory Booker (NJ) and Kirsten Gillibrand (NY). A long list of potential candidates is testing the waters.
Supporters gushed over the speech.
“Bernie is the moral reset this country needs,” said Denise O’Bierne, a homemaker from Howell, NJ.
