By: Don Dike-Anukam | Photos by Ty O’Neil
Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) on Wednesday made his first campaign visit to Reno since announcing his 2020 bid for the Democratic Party nomination for president. He spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 at City Plaza.
He had two local speakers prior to the major warm-up speakers. One, Marissa Weaselboy, is a university student of Native American heritage who made the case for affordable college and tuition; and another, Brook Noble, spoke about being forced out of her apartment due to a major rent hike by her new landlord.
Ben Cohen, a co-chair of the Sanders campaign and formerly of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Company, introduced the senator. He gave testimony about Sanders having known him since the candidate was mayor of Burlington, Vermont. He talked about his record on fighting big corporate interests.
Cohen jokingly promised what his role in a Sanders presidency would be.
“The most important thing is defeating Trump, and the way I see it every day — and polls have shown consistently — that if nominated, Bernie beats trump, Bernie beats Trump, Bernie beats Trump!” he yelled. “When he’s elected, and I become Minister of Ice Cream, I promise of pint in every freezer, a sundae in every bowl.”
Sanders then spoke for about an hour on a range of topics: improving lives of veterans, increasing the standard of living for everyday Americans, and having economic mobility that should “go up, not down.”
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