Sanders supporters set the mood at OKC rally

by Sara Ritsch
Staff Writer

(Oklahoma City, OK) - Bernie Sanders enthused a crowd of just under 6,000 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday, urging them to vote and reminding them of the unity that it takes to induce real change. Among the crowd were supporters of all ages – senior citizens and fresh-faced voters alike.

Dr. Phillip Granger was 24 in 1968 and marched in the Civil Rights Movement that swept the nation. He has a PhD in Psychology and in History and has taught all his life; save for when he worked for Robert Kennedy in 1968.

To Granger, Sanders speaks to a similarly motivating revolution in 2016. Granger told The Gayly before Sanders took the stage that he was enthusiastic about his policies; namely, “the single-payer health plan, I’m totally against corporate mafia, free college education – particularly that – those are the main issues.”

Granger followed with, “I believe in his vision. I had that vision 40 years ago. He went to jail in 1963 for civil rights. Hillary Clinton was a Goldwater Girl in 1963.”

In fact, Clinton did support Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election. Goldwater promised to overturn the Civil Rights Act and voted against it in that same year. By 1968, Clinton had turned starkly anti-war, supporting Eugene McCarthy.

But in that way, Sanders’ consistency is the most appealing aspect of his campaign to Granger. “He’s consistent. He had that same vision 40 years ago too.”

Opening for Senator Sanders were such eclectic groups as a Native dance troupe that brought down the house; Horse Thief, a local OKC band whose frontrunner, Cameron Neal, sang “This Land Is Your Land” to the booming cheers of the audience, sending a resounding message of peace; and Wayne Coyne, of the OKC local band The Flaming Lips. Finally, Connie Johnson gave her good words and introduced the Senator.

Before his entrance, The Gayly spoke with two attendees between the aged 24 and 35 – Tyler Hopkins, an attorney, and Natasha Chitsazan, a pediatric dietician. Hopkins described himself as not quite “on the fence” but still undecided about the Sanders campaign. “I like the way that he talks about issues; I don’t necessarily agree with everything but I think his voice is incredibly refreshing. I probably support him more than I support anybody else.

“Mainly, I think things like this are important – to be a part of a representational democracy,” he says. “I love that he is able to say that he is a socialist – I’m not a socialist, but I’m also not afraid of the definition of the word. There are a lot of people who are afraid of what socialism means, and they don’t know what it actually means.

“I believe in free market capitalism; however, I don’t think that we should be afraid of the government regulating – I mean America is a socialist country, or it should be, and I think we could benefit from a lot more regulation of industries, such as health care. I like his long standing record on civil rights, gay rights, feminism. That’s really important.”

Chitsazan spoke up. “I agree with [Sanders] more than I agree with anyone else. I’ve watched a few debates and I like what he has to say. The one piece that I feel like he’s lacking in is some really strong, clear statements and plans on foreign policy, but I like a lot of what he has to say about what he would do here at home. I just wanted to learn more and I’ve never been to a rally, so I thought I should come!”

During his speech, Sanders touched on the same bullet points as in Tulsa – preaching against capitalism, greed and bigotry; and for equality, free tuition and a national health care system. Oklahoma City’s cheers shook the stands, including those coming from Hopkins and Chitsazan, and almost every seat was packed.

A group of women yelled, “We love you Bernie!” and Sanders burst into the same laughter that countless people have searched on YouTube just to be charmed by its joviality. The crowd responded well.

Sanders emphasized the nation’s need for a political revolution, and the signs made by supporters backed up his philosophies. One, in particular, spoofed Usher’s “Confessions: Pt. II”, reading:

“These are my confessions:

Just when I thought I paid all I could pay, the federal gov’t said I had more on the way.
Man I’m broke, just trying to pay them dues: wealth shouldn’t belong to a few
If I’m gonna tell it then I gotta tell it all, fight for human rights, break down the corporate wall.

I think you should…Let it Bern.”

After his speech, Sanders made his way into the audience, shaking hands and taking selfies with everyone he could reach.  

The audience that packed the stands filed out, unable to reach Sanders on the floor. The Gayly asked Hopkins and Chitsazan if they thought they would both vote for Sanders.

“Yeah,” they both said. “I will.”

The Gayly – 2/29/2016 @ 11:17 a.m. CST