Bernie Sanders Holds Rally in Salem

Bernie Sanders held a rally at the Salem Armory Auditorium on Tuesday, May 10, just hours after his recent win in West Virginia.  About 4,000 people attended.
The rally began at 7 p.m., but vendors and guests lined up as early as 6 a.m. to secure their chance to get in. These vendors sold pins and t-shirts, and one guest, Jim Peterson, even brought a car graffitied with flames and pictures of Sanders for others to sign.
“I saw a Tesla wrapped in Bernie signs, and I wanted to make a working man’s car that represented Bernie,” Peterson said.
Sanders made his 4th visit to Oregon in an effort gain the support of more Oregonians before the primary on Tuesday, May 17. He emphasized that he was in the election for the long run, but that it would be an uphill battle to get there. He also contrasted himself from Hillary Clinton in many different areas, including his stances on issues and who he believes can beat Donald Trump.
“Trump is not going to become president for a number of reasons. A major reason is that the American people understand that we can not have a president who has insulted Latinos, has insulted Muslims, everyday is insulting women, has insulted veterans like John McCain, and has insulted African Americans in very hostile ways. He will not become president because the American people understand that our strength is in our diversity,” Sanders said.
He also discussed his stances on issues as an individual candidate, including the division of wealth in America, wage cost, healthcare, tuition, and police brutality.
“A vast majority of the police department are honest and hardworking and have a very difficult job, but when a police officer like any other public official breaks the law, that officer must be held accountable. We have got to demilitarize local police officers. We have got to make police departments reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. We have got to end corporate ownership of prisons and detention centers. We have got to create a culture in this country which says the police department’s leave those laws killing people is the last resort not the first resort,” Sanders said.
Sanders’ parting remark encouraged Oregonians to have the largest voter turnout in the state’s history.