Vermont Sen. and Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders held a rally in San Diego on March 21 at the San Diego Convention Center downtown, with 12,000 in attendance – 6,000 inside and 6,000 outside. Some were from Ocean Beach and wanted to show their support. Gina Smith said that because of Sanders, she is now once again interested in politics. “It makes me cry,” she said. “I’m beyond delighted about what I’m seeing here. And I believe he can make a difference. He’s been in business making a difference for 40 years. It’s time that he get a chance to show himself.” Like Smith, Blue Stirling has volunteered in Sanders’ campaign. The high school student from Point Loma got 50 people registered to vote. He hopes that people will go to their communities and spread the word further. “Through the school project, I learned how his principles would affect my lifestyle and how I get through my daily life,” Stirling said. “We did debate parties all through Point Loma and Ocean Beach and got involved that way. People were really excited.” Sasha, from Ocean Beach, supports Sanders but thinks that all elections are theater and that this is no different. He says Donald Trump is taking it to a new level and that his theater is a circus. He notes that Sanders appeals to people who are not usually about big money. Supporters, he noted, are young and progressive, and Sanders’ views are pretty much in support of the worker. “So you see a lot of workers here at the rally of every race, age and grouping,” Sasha said. “Bernie’s view about Wall Street taking over and big money is also my view. I think that it would be difficult for him to be president because he is up against a tremendous fixed lock of people against him. I think he could make a difference.” Smith said she would like to see the interest of the people taken into account rather than the interest of the big corporations as they get rich on the backs of the American public’. “I think that whatever happens, we have already seen a huge uprising in awareness and belief that things can be put right.” Smith said.
