‘We will defeat Donald Trump’: Bernie Sanders appears in Myrtle Beach ahead of primary
Calling President Donald Trump the most dangerous president in modern history, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders attracted thousands of supporters Wednesday afternoon in Myrtle Beach ahead of the South Carolina primary.
During a presidential campaign stop at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, Sanders took aim at Trump, calling him a pathological liar, racist, sexist, homophobe, xenophobe and religious bigot who is running a corrupt and fraudulent administration. Touting an agenda that aligns with the working class throughout the country, Sanders said it will be enough to claim victory over Trump.
“We’re not just going to win this election because Trump is a liar and fraud, we’re going to win this election because we are putting together the strongest grassroots movement this country has seen in a long time,” the Vermont Senator said. “We must and we will defeat Donald Trump.”
Sanders touched on several issues, including climate change, health care, women’s rights, immigration and education, stressing that on his first day in office he would legalize marijuana and expunge the records of anyone ever convicted on a marijuana charge. Once legalized, he said he would ensure rural communities impacted hardest by the war on drugs would have the necessary resources to launch businesses that can profit off legal marijuana sales rather than corporations.
Additionally, he promised on his first day to end the demonetization of undocumented immigrants by restoring legal status to the 1.8 million eligible for citizenship.
“Under our administration, federal agents will never be snatching babies from the arms of their mothers,” Sanders said. “Under our administration, we will in fact move forward with a comprehensive immigration reform and a path of citizenship for our undocumented.”
Sanders is currently ahead in the polls, edging out a crowded field of Democrats grappling for the presidential nomination that also includes former Vice President Joe Biden, and fellow senators Elizabeth Warren, of Massachusetts, and Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota. Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, billionaire businessman Tom Steyer, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, of Hawaii, are also in the running.
With the South Carolina democratic primary on Saturday, some supporters who were in attendance during Sanders’ rally acknowledged they were still unsure who they would cast their vote for among the democratic candidates, while others were certain that Sanders is their only choice, calling him an honest politician who is a voice for the people.
“Honestly there’s nobody else I’m supporting,” said Beaufort resident Armani Gibbs. “Hopefully we raise enough votes to get him in office and raise a movement.”
While Coastal Carolina University student Brandon Jackson called Sanders inspiring and energetic, Hartsville resident Stephanie Stewart said Sanders is someone who has always been on the right side of history and the only politician worth trusting. Myrtle Beach resident Carlie Dingle said she supports Sanders’ policies, noting that he’s always been consistent.
Still unsure if he’ll vote for Sanders or Biden on Saturday, Myrtle Beach resident Joe Ferrero said he attended Sanders’ rally to see the type of support he was getting from South Carolinians. While he plans on attending Biden’s town hall event Thursday night at CCU, he said he’ll vote for anyone but Trump in the general election.
“If for whatever reason Bernie doesn’t get the nomination, we’re going to support the nominee so that we can retire this gentleman in the White House,” Ferrero said.
Hoping for a large voter turnout on Saturday, Sanders encouraged the near 3,000 in attendance to go out, vote and fight back against Trump and the corporate elites who rank in the nation’s 1 percent. He also acknowledged his policies won’t be an easy feat if elected, but encouraged that real change happens from the bottom up.
“At the end of the day the 1 percent is powerful, but they are just 1 percent,” Sanders said. “If the 99 percent stand together, if we do not allow Trump to divide us based on the color of our skin or where we were born or our religion or sexual orientation or our gender, if we stand together, 99 percent is a heck of a lot bigger number than 1 percent.”
The polls will be open on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voting locations will be held across Horry County. You can find your voting location on the bottom of your voter registration card or by visiting the South Carolina Election Commission website.
