Bernie Sanders holds UI rally

By Daily Illini Staff Report
March 12, 2016

4:15 p.m. — “Love trumps hatred.”

Speaking about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Sanders speaks of his faith in the American people. 

“The American people will defeat Donald Trump,” he said. 

The crowd erupts in chants — “Bernie, Bernie, Bernie” — as Sanders continues to talk about Trump’s candidacy and legacy thus far. 

Sanders ends his speech by speaking about the need for a large turnout for voters in Illinois’ primary on Tuesday.

Sanders walks off stage to David Bowie’s “Starman” as he ends his speech to the Champaign-Urbana community. 

4:10 p.m. — Sanders backs the Affordable Health Care Act saying that too many people are un- or under-insured in health care in the U.S. 


4:05 p.m. — Sanders says Republican candidates’ inability to agree with the science behind climate change is a result of campaign finance. 

Sanders was met with a deafening applause when speaking about college students and minorities,alling upon the regular citizens to create change. 

3:50 p.m. — Sanders has started to talk about the relationship between Wall Street and Democratic leader Hillary Clinton. The Vermont Senator was met with a great deal of applause after saying that he voted against the War in Iraq.

Sanders has made it a point to talk about the affect of the economy across the nation and in Illinois. 

Sanders calls for a minimum wage to be raised to a “living wage,” or $15 an hour. 

3:45 p.m. — Sanders encourages the crowd to not just take things as is.

“(We will) create an economy not just for the 1 percent,” he said to a massive round of cheering. “We are going to end institutional racism.”

Sanders has already talked about a great deal of subjects, much met with a round of cheers and applause. 

3:30 p.m. — Bernie Sanders has taken the stage at the ARC.

The Democratic presidential hopeful was embraced by applause and cheering from thousands of students and visitors. The crowd, which initially listed with a capacity of 3,600, fills up the width of four of the gym’s six basketball courts at the University’s Activities and Recreation Center.

Sanders opened up by thanking the speakers before he took the stage.

As the primary approaches, efforts by both Republican and Democratic presidential hopefuls to gain the Illinois vote have been noticeable. Heidi Cruz, wife of Republican candidate Ted Cruz, visited Champaign-Urbana earlier this week. Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton spoke in Peoria on Friday, while his wife and Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton spoke in Vernon Hills on Thursday night. Before making the trip to Champaign, Sanders spoke at Argo Community High School in Summit, Illinois, on Friday night.

Matt Pasquini, president of Illini for Bernie, said Sanders’ visit comes in hopes of increasing voting efforts for Tuesday’s primary. Students can vote in the basement of the Illini Union through Tuesday. According to ARC staff members, attendees began lining up around 5:30 a.m.; doors opened at 11 a.m. and the rally begins at 3 p.m.



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