Bernie Sanders’ call to fight political and economic establishment resonates with crowd at Irvine rally
Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) greets supporters at a rally for his presidential campaign Sunday at the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre. He called his campaign a fight for a “radical” departure from American politics as usual.
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders descended on the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre on Sunday to hear the Vermont senator deliver a campaign speech touting social, racial and economic justice.
The 74-year-old spoke for about 60 minutes in his “A Future to Believe In” address before a crowd of enthusiastic supporters who filled the 16,000-seat outdoor concert venue to about three-quarters capacity.
Sanders, making his first campaign stop in Orange County, called himself a stronger candidate than former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the race to the Democratic presidential nomination to take on the presumptive Republican nominee, Donald Trump, in November.
Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders began gathering in front of the Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre stage around 3 p.m. Sunday, three hours before he was scheduled to speak at a campaign rally.
He declared the American people are “sick and tired” of the political and economic establishment.
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“What you will see here in Irvine is what I have seen all over this country,” Sanders said, “and that is millions of people who are prepared to stand up and fight back, people who are prepared to take on Wall Street, take on the greed of corporate America, take on the fossil fuel industry, take on the pharmaceutical industry.”
He called his campaign a “fight we have got to wage together,” a “radical” departure from American politics as usual.
John Densmore, former drummer for the Doors, speaks at Sunday’s Bernie Sanders rally in Irvine. “I’m not playing drums,” he said. “No, I’m drumming for Bernie.”
Free college tuition paid for by taxing Wall Street interests, as well as a $15 minimum wage, infrastructure investment, criminal justice reform and promoting income equality were among Sanders’ campaign promises that drew cheers from the diverse spectators, many of whom dressed in “Feel the Bern” garb.
Sanders’ rally appeared to go on without protesters in or outside the amphitheater, a contrast to Trump’s April 28 appearance at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa, which attracted large protests outside that led to incidents of vandalism and violence.
The scene Sunday sometimes took on the tone of a baseball game, with vendors walking the aisles. Some sold lemonade – frozen and iced – while others peddled popcorn. Lines at the Baja Grill restaurant and Flame Broiler booth at times stretched 40 people deep.
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Irvine police kept watch as people lined up at the Irvine Meadows parking lot to get inside for Sanders’ 6 p.m. speech.
Some vendors who were selling Sanders memorabilia in the parking lot were told to stop because they lacked city of Irvine business licenses.
Among the rally guests were John Densmore, former drummer of the Doors, who sang his band’s 1971 hit “L.A. Woman.” He called on the crowd to unite in “political revolution.”
“I’m not playing drums,” Densmore said. “No, I’m drumming for Bernie.”
Vendors sold Bernie Sanders buttons and other memorabilia in the parking lot at Irvine Meadows Amphitheatre, where the Democratic presidential candidate led a rally Sunday.
Cenk Uygur, host of the liberal political commentary series “The Young Turks,” called the “establishment media” part of the widely corrupt system that Sanders is trying to address.
Uygur noted Sanders’ long-standing progressivism in the past 40 years, promoting income equality, single-payer health care and the environment.
Anton Varvak of Laguna Hills stood on the edge of the amphitheater’s pit, directly in front of the stage. He was among several dozen people who arrived about three hours before the event’s scheduled start, waiting in the sun to hear Sanders speak.
Varvak, who votes “all over the political spectrum,” said he favors free-market ideas but likes how Sanders is willing to “break up” big banking interests.
“I think he’s honest,” Varvak said. “I think it says something that he gets money from individuals rather than the Koch brothers. “
Bruno Van Holland and his girlfriend, Stephanie Farrell, both of Ladera Ranch, walked into the rally wearing matching blue T-shirts with a silhouette of Sanders’ head showing his glasses and characteristically unkempt white hair.
Farrell said she’s learning about the political scene through her boyfriend, who she said is passionate about the subject.
“He tells the truth,” Van Holland said of Sanders. “He’s one of the most honest candidates I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been following politics since I was a kid.”
Sanders’ call for free college tuition appeals to Van Holland.
“I would love to have my nephews go to school and not have to worry about having a debt,” he said. “You pretty much go to school to get a job, and then you get a job to pay for school. It’s a pretty bad cycle.”
Costa Mesa resident Christy Martinez, who is studying sociology at Cal State Fullerton after graduating from Early College High School in Costa Mesa, said she likes how Sanders supports minorities and how his events draw a wide variety of people.
Martinez also attended the Trump rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre.
“The presence here, I feel so at ease,” she said. “At the Trump rally, I felt so out of place. Here, it’s mellow.”
Sanders went to Irvine after an event earlier that day in Vista. On Saturday, he spoke in National City.
Sanders next heads to Los Angeles and Santa Monica on Monday before returning to Orange County on Tuesday for a rally at the Anaheim Convention Center.
Sanders has won 20 state primaries and caucuses but is trailing Clinton badly in the total delegate tally in the race for the nomination. Clinton is 90 delegates short of winning the nomination and is expected to clinch it June 7, when California and five other states hold primaries.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Seema Mehta contributed to this report.
Twitter: @BradleyZint
