Bernie Sanders supporters land on AP Boardwalk
Dunn: Aim to get Vermont Senator's name on June 7 Primary Ballot
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters descended on Asbury Park’s boardwalk and parts of the downtown Saturday afternoon.
Their objective to spread awareness of the presidential candidate’s campaign and organize a contingent to help the 74-year-old win a place on the New Jersey June primary ballot and then the 2016 race, organizer Pat Dunn [shown at right] said.
“I’ve known about Bernie for years, he’s been this mythical unicorn who has managed to stay in the Senate for years,” Dunn said. “Anytime you hear anything about him, it’s always that Bernie is the most honest person we have.”
Dunn began an online campaign a few month back that has grown to have more than 250 supporters.
On Saturday over 200 Sanders for president supporters joined him to spread the Bernie for president word.
The march began from the historic Convention Hall with the call: “Greeting from Asbury Park.” The response: “Welcome to the Revolution.”
Along the way the call and responses included: “You down with TPP – Hell No Not Me;” “More Schools – Less Jails;” “Bernie Knows the Deal – Climate Change is Real;” “Tell me what a Feminist Looks Like – Bernie’s what a feminist looks like;” “Show us what Democracy look like – This is what Democracy looks like.”
Heather McLaughlin, 42 of Asbury Park not only donned a Bernie T-shirt, but wore earrings with Sanders face on them and carried a homemade sign.
“For the first time in my adult life there is someone running for the highest office in this country whose voting record for his entire career is consistent with everything he has said,” McLaughlin [shown at right] said. “I’m voting for Bernie because I want to be on the right side of history.”
Carrying a handmade “Moe Schools, Less Jails” sign Allentown resident Leslie Nielsen said she’s a Bernie supporter because he does not accept big money from corporations.
“I’m a teacher and strongly believe education is the most important tool to help people get away from crime,” Nielsen [shown at right] said. “We should be investing in children and their future instead of building more jails, which are run by money corporations.”
Oscar Graciano, 22, of Long Branch [shown in feature photo]said he’s concerned by the rhetoric coming from the other side of the aisle.
“We need people who fight for those who have been through the struggle in hour White House,” he said. “We need someone who knows how to support people.”
Drawn to his sincerity and the fact that he’s been consistent with his message for years, Neptune City’s Igg Jenkins said a political revolution is at hand.
“I really thing this whole Bernie Sanders movement is transcending and becoming more of a revolution,” the 33-year-old said. “We have to get our hands dirty, it’s time for us to get involved again because big business has co-opt all of our futures so now it’s time for big business to help us out.”
Fred Blumberg and Pete Costello of Lakewood [shown at right] said they have been Bernie Sanders supporters for years.
“We will support Bernie until the very end because he’s for the people,” Costello said.
“He’s the people’s candidate, for the people,” Blumberg said. “He’s our man.”
Dunn and his supporters have until April 4 to collect enough signatures to get Sanders on New Jersey’s June 7 primary election ballot.
“I picked Asbury Park for the march because it’s a community with a diverse demographic and this is a city that has been on the rise,” Dunn said. “The original idea was just to spread awareness for the Bernie campaign but now I want to not only let the Asbury Park community to know about Bernie but to organize a contingent that will help take him to the presidency.”
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