Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Los Angeles on Saturday for the latest event on their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, drawing a crowd of tens of thousands. This event, held at Gloria Molina Grand Park in downtown LA, was the sixth stop on the tour, which aims to rally citizens against what they describe as the growing influence of corporate elites and the wealthiest Americans in political decision-making.
The tour, which began on March 20, saw Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez travel to North Las Vegas and Tempe, Arizona, before reaching California. Sanders, who has been holding rallies nationwide since the start of the year, was joined by Ocasio-Cortez in February to continue pushing the message of combating corporate power and reinforcing the rights of working-class Americans.
In addition to the political speeches, the event featured performances by artists like Neil Young, Maggie Rogers, and Joan Baez, adding an element of cultural activism to the rally.
During the rally, Sanders took the opportunity to criticize President Donald Trump’s administration, calling out the president for actions he claims undermine the Constitution. He also voiced strong opposition to Elon Musk, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, further amplifying his message of resistance against the concentration of power in the hands of a few elites.
Ocasio-Cortez echoed the criticism, specifically targeting President Trump’s immigration policies. She condemned ICE officials for attempting to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) schools, alleging they were targeting children. The LAUSD had confirmed earlier this week that federal agents attempted to enter Lillian Street and Russell elementary schools in South Los Angeles to perform welfare checks on children who had arrived at the border unaccompanied. The Department of Homeland Security clarified that these agents were simply attempting to ensure the well-being of these children, but Ocasio-Cortez used the incident to argue that such actions are part of a broader, harmful agenda.
The “Fighting Oligarchy” tour continues to gain traction, with supporters rallying behind Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez as they criticize corporate greed, advocate for social change, and take aim at government policies they believe exacerbate inequality.
“We’re going to make our revolution with joy! We’re going to sing and dance our away to victory against hatred and divisiveness,” Bernie Sanders said, adding, “Your presence here today is making Donald Trump and Elon Musk very nervous.”
“All over this country, in Vermont, California, all over this country, we have a serious problem with drug addiction, with alcoholism, with other forms of addiction,” Sanders said. “But in my honest opinion, the most serious addiction crisis we face is the addiction of the oligarchy toward greed. They’ve got billions and billions of dollars (and) it’s not enough: They need more. And if they have to step on the poor and the disabled and working class people, that is what they will do unless we stop them and we will stop them.”
