Senator Bernie Sanders speaks
24 March 2025
This text is from an email Senator Sanders sent after the huge turnouts at his recent rallies with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, described here.
The American people do not want Trumpism. They do not want oligarchy. They do not want authoritarianism. They are tired of massive income and wealth inequality and the greed of the billionaire class. They are tired of a corrupt political system that allows billionaires in both parties to buy elections and leaves working people behind.
All across this country Americans are prepared to take on the forces that control our economic and political lives. They are prepared to fight back. They want a government and an economy that works for all, not just the 1%.
And they understand that the Democratic Party isn’t going to save us. This fight is up to all of us at the grassroots level.
What history has always told us is that real change only occurs when ordinary people stand up against oppression and injustice.
That is the history of the founding of our nation when brave men and women took on the mighty British empire. It is the history of the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights movement, the women’s movement, the environmental movement and the gay rights movement.
Yes, the oligarchs ARE enormously powerful. They have endless amounts of money. They control our economy. They own much of the media. They have enormous influence over our political system.
But, from the bottom of my heart, I am convinced that they can be beaten. But it won’t be easy.
Our job in the days, weeks and months ahead is to energize and organize.
We need to hold meetings and rallies in all 50 states, and then do it again and again and again. And when those rallies are over, we need to organize the people who attend to mobilize in their communities and fight back in every way we can.
We need progressives to run for office at all levels. I am talking about school boards, city councils, state legislatures and the races that are not in the news but make a tremendous difference in local communities. I’m talking about races for governor, U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
But it’s not just running for office. At a time when many of our people feel lonely and isolated, we need to build community and bring people together. In the deepest sense we need to care for each other and give each other strength.
This is a pivotal moment in American history. What we do now will not only impact our lives, but the lives of our kids and future generations. In terms of climate change, it will determine the well-being of the entire planet.
Now is not the time for despair. It’s not the time to hide under the covers. It’s the time to organize and fight back.
Together, we can and will win.
Unsure of what you should do? Here are some possibilities, or email me at NatPernick@gmail.com for suggestions:
I am cutting ties to Amazon and Twitter / X
What you can do to oppose the Trump / Musk dictatorship
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Sounds like they're trying to split from Dems and Independents and go for a third party as Progressives. Is this viable or does the split give the next elections to the very united, albeit bullied into it, Republicans? From what I've seen in the last bunch of elections, Progressives are not strong enough to win independently and not accepted by more centrist Democrats; nor do they stand a chance of attracting dispirited Centrist Republicans. I'd LOVE to be wrong on this one.