Sanders has made a name for himself in being outside the mainstream. But this is beyond the pale.
Now dozens have been arrested after a brazen attack at a Bernie Sanders rally.
Sanders’ Fiery Anti-Elite Rhetoric Takes Center Stage
On Thursday, a vibrant crowd of thousands converged in Philadelphia for the “For the workers, not the millionaires, May Day rally,” a spirited demonstration against wealth inequality and corporate influence.
Leading the charge was Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), whose estimated $3 million net worth did little to dampen his fiery critique of America’s affluent elite.
Addressing the energized throng, Sanders unleashed a blistering attack on President Donald Trump and his administration, framing their policies as a boon for the ultra-rich at the expense of ordinary workers.
“Today we have government of the billionaire class by the billionaire class and for the billionaire class,” Sanders declared. “And we will not allow that to continue.” His speech, a hallmark of his ongoing “Fighting Oligarchy” national tour, resonated with the crowd’s frustration over economic disparities and unchecked power.
Targeting Titans: Sanders Calls Out Musk, Bezos, and Trump
Sanders didn’t shy away from naming names, taking pointed jabs at tech moguls Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, alongside Trump, as symbols of an exploitative elite.
“Oligarchy is a president who, when he gets inaugurated, doesn’t hide it — right behind him are the three wealthiest people in America,” Sanders said, alluding to Musk, Bezos, and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who attended Trump’s inauguration and poured millions into the event.
“So let us be clear and lay it out on the table in the year 2025. In America, we are now living in an oligarchic form of society.”
Notably absent from Sanders’ critique were mentions of the billionaires who backed former President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, a selective omission that highlighted the partisan edge of his rhetoric.
His speech also targeted Trump’s cuts to federal agencies via the Department of Government Efficiency, which Sanders argued exacerbate wealth gaps in Pennsylvania and beyond. “And here is the bottom line, and I say that to my Democratic colleagues in the Congress,” he stated. “Stop defending the status quo economically. An economy in which the rich get richer and working people struggle should not be defended.”
Rally Turns Chaotic as Protesters Clash with Police
Organized by the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, the rally kicked off at 4 p.m. with impassioned speeches from union members who echoed Sanders’ condemnation of billionaires and Trump’s policies, according to Philadelphia’s NBC 10.
However, the event took a turbulent turn as protesters marched through the city, defying police orders to clear roadways. At one point, demonstrators blocked a key intersection leading to an interstate highway, prompting a response from law enforcement.
“While the demonstration was intended to be peaceful, it led to the blockage of a major roadway, causing significant traffic disruptions and creating safety concerns for both protesters and motorists,” the Philadelphia Police Department said.
“Officers on the scene issued multiple warnings instructing participants to clear the highway.” After repeated defiance, police arrested 70 individuals, marking a tense conclusion to the otherwise worker-focused rally.
Sanders’ appearance galvanized the crowd, but the rally’s descent into disorder highlighted the challenges of channeling populist fervor into constructive action.
