"I am Willing to Fight for Someone I Do Not Know": Mr. Sanders Speech Becomes Viral Rallying Cry by Eoin Higgins!
(2019-10-22 at 10:39:14 )

"I am Willing to Fight for Someone I Do Not Know": Mr. Sanders Speech Becomes Viral Rallying Cry by Eoin Higgins

"There is an United States of America that most people believe in," said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. "It is an ideal. It is not a reality yet."

Sen. Bernie Sanders closing remarks during his event with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in Queens on Saturday became a viral rallying cry for supporters of the 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful over the weekend as thousands of social media users promised to be "willing to fight for someone I do not know."

"Are you willing to fight for that person who you do not even know as much as you are willing to fight for yourself?" Mr. Sanders asked the crowd of over 26,000 who gathered at Queensbridge Park in Long Island City to hear the senator, Ocasio-Cortez, and others speak. An overflow crowd of an additional 5,000 people were reportedly listening to the event from outside of the park.

"Are you willing to fight for that person who you do not even know as much as you are willing to fight for yourself?" "Are you willing to stand together and fight for those people who are struggling economically in this country?"

Twitter users thoughout the weekend tweeted affirmations that they were willing to do just that, a continuation of sorts from the senators "Not Me, Us" campaign tagline.

The request from the Vermont senator was reminiscent of the message sent at Saturdays rally from Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, and in an endorsement video by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).

Ms Omar emphasized Mr. Sanders multiracial, diverse coalition of support.

"Senator Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that has built a movement, and continues to build a movement, that transcends gender, ethnicity, religion," said Ms Omar. "And we know that in order to take on Donald Trump, we are going to need a unifier, someone who understands what the fight looks like and someone who is ready to defeat him."

"I am so proud to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for president. Senator Bernie Sanders is the only candidate that has built a movement and continues to build a movement that transcends gender, ethnicity, religion."

The future with a Sanders presidency, Ms Omar added, is one where the United States could potentially live up to its promise.

"There was an United States of America that I dreamed about," Ms Omar said. "There is an America that most people believe in. It is an ideal. It is not a reality yet."

In her remarks Saturday, Ms Ocasio-Cortez sounded similar notes, telling the Queens crowd that the Sanders movement is about more than simply changing the White House.

"Our priority is not only defeating Donald Trump," said Ms Ocasio-Cortez. "It is defeating the system of which he is a symptom."

Today I am endorsing Senator Bernie Sanders for president.

In the end, we must come together to defeat Donald Trump. We should do so knowing he is a symptom of a larger problem - and our greatest hope is a multiracial, working class movement in the United States of America.-Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez October 19, 2019

Rally attendee Tasfiya Kashem, 16, told Gothamist on Saturday that she finds the senators message and advocacy to be an ageless message that transcends identity.

"He uplifts working class people, people of color and women, minorities in general," said Ms Kashem. "I think a lot of people believe that since he is a white man, it is important to endorse other candidates like women candidates and candidates of color, but I think he is still the only candidate who works for those people."

Washington Post opinion editor James Downie wrote Sunday that Ms Ocasio-Cortez and Ms Omars endorsements are part of a generational shift in progressive politics.

"Whatever happens to Mr. Sanders 2020 campaign, the movement behind it likely will continue to be a force to be reckoned with," wrote Mr. Downie.

At Jacobin, Kalewold H. Kalewold opined that the Sanders campaigns lasting effect will be the invigoration of a true working class, left movement.

"Something new is taking shape for the United States of American left, a unique opportunity presented by his candidacy to build social democracy in the United States America, rein in the long and destructive arm of United States of American military policy, and unite a durable coalition that can build pro-worker policies for decades to come," wrote Mr. Kalewold.

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.