Bernie’s Unparalleled Popularity Brings Venice to a Stop (Videos)
Dec 21, 2019. Venice, CA. Bernie spoke to a crowd estimated to be above 14,000. But this number only included those in the cordoned off areas for the rally and overflow. In the distance, people stopped and watched and listened. Police blocked two streets. Parking was so scarce that even most of the press had to pay $30 to park in a nearby parking lot.
Those who came were not disappointed. Even celebrities in the audience, including Danny DeVito and Willow Smith, were seen applauding at the speeches and for Bernie. Graham Elwood (The Politicial Vigilante) and Fiorella Isabel (Convo Couch) were recording the rally from the press stands.
Those who came were not disappointed. Even celebrities in the audience, including Danny DeVito and Willow Smith, were seen applauding at the speeches and for Bernie. Graham Elwood (The Politicial Vigilante) and Fiorella Isabel (Convo Couch) were recording the rally from the press stands.
The surprise endorsement of the day was from Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a California Assemblyman who has tended to hold the Establishment line in the California Democratic Party. Reggie was adamantly for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and backed Kamala for 2020. Reggie has been excellent on criminal defense issues but has sided with the corporate Democrats and the pharmaceutical industry on a number of other issues. After Tulsi made mincemeat of Kamala by exposing her worse than terrible record as Attorney General and as San Francisco District Attorney, Kamala went from top tier to bottom tier and finally dropped out due to lack of support. Most Californians who knew Reggie would have expected him to wind up backing another Establishment candidate like Joe Biden or Elizabeth Warren. Instead, he caught the Bern and is now backing Bernie Sanders, all thanks to Tulsi Gabbard. Bernie’s positon of calling for felon prisoner voting rights nationwide may have helped him win over Reggie. Criminal defense attorneys in California have long sought this reform and have presented the issue to Reggie. All the same, if Tulsi hadn’t exposed Kamala’s record, Bernie never would have obtained this endorsement. Now that California’s Senator’s Presidential campaign has hit the trashcan, Bernie is number one in California. Before Reggie spoke, many people in the crowd said they also supported Tulsi. After Reggie’s announcement, Tulsi’s contribution to Bernie was the subject of a great many conversations with people saying Bernie owes Tulsi more than big time for that one and many hope he will repay her the favor by making her his running mate if nominated.
No surprise, Tim Robbins (Susan Sarandon’s ex) spoke of his endorsement for Bernie and why we should all get behind Bernie. Robbins also spoke of criminal justice reform issues, a subject to which Robbins has dedicated much of his life.
Longtime Bernie supporters and civil rights activist Cornel West spoke in support of Bernie Sanders. In San Francisco, while at the California Democratic Convention, Cornel said that Tulsi needs to be on the ticket. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced Bernie. Alexandria was taken down on the Jimmy Dore show for attacking Tulsi for exercising her conscience by voting “Present” on the partisan impeachment vote. AOC, as she is called, is progressive on some issues but Jimmy pointed out issues where she is extremely regressive, such as her support for undemocratic regime change in Latin America and her support for a version of the Green New Deal that allows fracking and nuclear power (as in Fukushima).
Jane Sanders came to the stage both at the start and end of Bernie’s presentation. Jane is extremely popular in her own right.
As usual, Bernie spoke of Medicare for all, free college, supporting the rights of immigrants, protecting the environment and reforming the criminal justice system. His speech is included in one of the videos below.
As usual, Bernie spoke of Medicare for all, free college, supporting the rights of immigrants, protecting the environment and reforming the criminal justice system. His speech is included in one of the videos below.
So far the fairest handling of the logistics was in Rancho Mirage, CA. Elizabeth Cavalieri, who ensured the rally at Rancho Mirage ran very smoothly was not in charge this time and several members of the press expressed concerns there was a visible discriminatory tier level system in place in Venice. Elizabeth came in to assist with her professionalism and courtesy and managed to put the press teams at ease. The Sanders campaign would be wise to place Elizabeth in charge of the media at future Southern California rallies as press relations are important.
Reggie said that California was going to become a Bernie state and this is important in winning the nomination as California has more delegates than any other state. The crowd proved that Bernie is already by far the most popular candidate in the state.
Watch the following Justice Gazette videos of the rally.
Reggie said that California was going to become a Bernie state and this is important in winning the nomination as California has more delegates than any other state. The crowd proved that Bernie is already by far the most popular candidate in the state.
Watch the following Justice Gazette videos of the rally.
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