http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/289122-sanders-supporters-take-to-streets-as-convention-kicksJuly 25, 2016, 03:10 pm
Sanders supporters take to streets as convention kicks off
By Megan R. Wilson
PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of Bernie Sanders supporters gathered outside City Hall in Pennsylvania on Monday as Democrats poured into the city for the first day of the party’s convention.
Speakers urged demonstrators to get involved in local politics, stressing that the progressive movement begun by Sanders must continue.
The crowd began gathering before 11 a.m., and grew exponentially as the hours went on, braving 97-degree heat.
Multiple groups, including the Equality Coalition, helped organize the gatherings, which were promoted on social media.
Speakers included Democratic delegates and top Ohio Democrat Nina Turner.
Michael Gibino, a Minnesota delegate who plans to cast his presidential vote for Sanders on Tuesday, ran the 1,200 miles to the convention from his home state.
“Revolutions don’t always happen the first time,” Gibino said as he addressed a growing crowd Monday morning. “Once we take over local politics, we can take over any level that we want.”
Gibino said he took three weeks off to canvas for Sanders in multiple states “because I realized that this is the most important thing I might do with my whole entire life.” The crowd cheered.
“This is a revolution, I hope you realize that,” he said.
“We are the future, and you need to start taking us seriously.”
Gibino started a CrowdRise fundraising page to help fund his journey and to benefit the charity Mile in My Shoes. As of July 25, it had raised $6,304.
Elsewhere in Philadelphia at official convention events, Democrats stressed that Sanders would be helping Clinton to unify the party.
In his convention speech, Sanders will address “how we are stronger together to take on the rigged system and get the economy working for everyone,” Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook said in a Monday press conference.
Sanders would “double down” on his endorsement of Clinton, Mook added.
Protesters held up signs on a multitude of progressive issues: “Invest in clean energy” one sign read. “Still Sanders, Hill No!” read another. Some signs lambasted Clinton’s paid speeches to Wall Street banks.
Roger Taz of Detroit drove to Philadelphia on Sunday night. He spoke at the demonstration and led a chant of “this is why we’re here and we will not disappear,” engaging the crowd on several issues, including universal healthcare and higher education.
Two giant fan-inflated marijuana joints were marched through the demonstration area.
One joint read “End the Racist Drug War – Legalize [marijuana],” while another right behind it declared: “Reschedule Cannabis Now!”
Even as temperatures soared near 100 degrees in Philadelphia, the demonstrators only became more upbeat as time went on. Some passed out ice in paper napkins to help others cool off.
About an hour and a half into the proceedings, people began to chant “Nina, Nina, Nina” as Turner, a Sanders surrogate and former minority whip in the Ohio State Senate, appeared through the crowd.
She encouraged protesters to hold their elected officials accountable, and to elect candidates “that support you.’
“Part of what Sen. Sanders did is he awakened the sleeping giant,” she said into the microphone to boisterous response from the crowd.
“You’re right!” one person yelled back.
“Everyone here is grown and you have your own mind, and you can determine what you are going to do,” Turner said, “but we cannot turn on the man who has the courage to step into that arena and take it to the establishment.”
“Now we might now always agree, but we should never turn on each other.”
At some points, recordings of Sanders speeches played over the loudspeaker. Some demonstrators were mouthing the words or talking along.
“That’s what this campaign is about,” Sanders’ voice boomed through the square, “bringing people together.”
The Equality Coalition, which describes itself as “fighting the social revolution” talked about by Sanders, rather than a political one, has been helping local homeless around the convention.
The group, which has grassroots operations in eight states — including Virginia, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware and Pennsylvania — began with a Facebook group of five friends.
“We want to take the morality of Bernie Sanders and put it into reality,” said Daniel Curcio, the organizer of Equality Coalition PA.
Those involved with the group handed out pizza during a rainstorm on Saturday to homeless individuals seeking shelter from the rain.
The crowd included people of all ages, including children. One speaker mentioned that a 12 year old had set up a fundraising page to come to Philadelphia
The crowd was slated to march through the streets in the afternoon, following some of the speakers.
“You cannot run political campaign on a political revolution and stop halfway,” one of the speakers said.
The crowd again cheered loudly.
