Get ready to fight the oligarchy and feel the Bern.
On Saturday, March 8th, Senator Bernie Sanders held a "Fight the Oligarchy" rally at Lincoln High School in Warren, Michigan, just a few minutes outside downtown Detroit.
Driving from Indianapolis and uncertain about the turnout, I was amazed to see the line to get in backed up for blocks. Crowd attendance estimates were a big topic of conversation among those standing in line. Some guessed 4,000, others 7,000, and as it turns out, nearly 10,000 people gathered that day to stand in solidarity against what they perceive as the ruling class and to listen to Bernie speak.
Local unions, veteran groups, and the Democratic Party were passing out fliers to people in line. There was even a brief chant of “A rally a day keeps the fascists away.” The crowd seemed to be a mix of older and younger people, but surprisingly, there were not many African Americans, Hispanics, or people of color.
The rally kicked off with a performance by The Armed, a band of Detroit natives often referred to as a “hardcore collective” due to their rotating lineup. Their sound is a frenetic combination of the 80s shoegaze band My Bloody Valentine and the hardcore band Converge. They’re loud, fast, and really angry.
Shortly after The Armed’s set, Detroit’s Department of Health, Human, and Veterans Services director, Abdul El-Sayed, took the stage to share a few words. He spoke about growing up with parents who immigrated from Egypt to the US and how much he felt he owed to this country for the opportunities he’s been given. His defiant yet humble tone resonated well with the audience.
Abdul was followed by United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain. Fain has risen through the ranks of the UAW over the past 30 years to become one of the organization’s most innovative leaders. He is known for snubbing Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential campaign and lending his support, and that of his organization, to Kamala Harris.
When Bernie entered, the room's energy shifted dramatically. His entrance generated a level of excitement comparable to that of a famous wrestler or rock star, rather than what you'd expect for an octogenarian.
One of the things I love most about Bernie is how consistent his messaging has been, and the causes he has taken up, all through his career. He has always stood for reducing economic inequality, free healthcare, free education, climate change, and workers' rights. Seeing him felt a bit like witnessing a unicorn in the fact that words, truth, and facts seem to matter to him. Today he found the opportunity to gather people around a single message:
Fight the Oligarchy.
More of this, please.
Above: The Armed, Drummer Abbas Muhammed.
Smashing Oligarchs.
Pretty sure this jacket was brought out of retirement from 2017.
"Chris" from The Armed.
The Armed wasn't well received by all of the Bernie supporters, but this woman was sweet. I apologized to her for how loud the band was, and she laughed, and said "you're not sorry!". She was right...I wasn't. Shortly after, a reporter from the press pool brought her ear plugs.
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