In this op-ed, we hear La Peña intern Devenni Hernandez’s point of view of why millenials are flocking to support Bernie Sanders. She is a senior Political Science student at UC Berkeley. She has been interning at La Peña Cultural Center since August, 2015. Her interests include philosophy, journaling/ism, social and environmental justice, and Chican@ studies.
On June 7th, 2016, the presidential primaries will arrive in California and La Peña will be an official polling site. There has been much to talk about in this year’s 2016 presidential race. We have been bombarded by the rhetoric on both sides, and there has probably never been a presidential election such as this in our nation’s history.
Let’s begin with Donald Trump. He has executed his campaign strategy precisely by sucking all the media attention out of any room he enters. This, nonetheless, has enabled a dangerous man to stay in the race.
We can definitely place the blame on the media, they glorified him, but at this point could we really expect anything else from the mainstream? Part of the issue has been our receptiveness to all his media attention. At the core, his campaign race has been nothing more than an embarrassment to the American people, one comparable to a freak-show. Perhaps I am no better for writing this, but this piece is not about Drumpf (Watch John Oliver’s video to understand the reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnpO_RTSNmQ). No, this is about the real contenders in the race, and one in particular.
On February 27th, I had the chance to attend a rally for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, which began in the Oscar Grant Plaza of Oakland, CA. If you are following the election you know that Sanders is running as a social democrat and is adamantly anti-establishment. This appeal has generated the support of millennials and the many disenfranchised. At the rally, Bernie supporters held signs that read, #feelthebern and “A Future to Believe in”, with messages that portrayed free healthcare and education, along with support to address climate change. These issues highlight obvious and fundamental concerns. Bernie’s campaign platform is set to combat the influence of the elite and corporations on politics and policy. For many independents and progressives, Bernie represents a viable choice set apart from the status quo. Given the state of political affairs today, it is no wonder.
So, why Bernie, and what sets him apart from Hilary? Many democrats believe that Hilary is the ideal candidate, given her husband’s career as former U.S. president, with the experience necessary for the presidency. Truth be told, though support for Hilary is reasonable, Bernie’s experience in professional politics far outweighs that of Hilary’s. Millennials are flocking, in record breaking numbers, to support Sanders in the presidential race, not because of how he appears on paper, but because of past political activism. Thus, not only does Bernie have more professional political experience, but a history of political activism that goes back to his college years.
Most notably, Sanders participated in the civil rights movement, having marched to Washington with MLK Jr. to hear his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. This resonates with today’s millennials, who recognize that past associations matter. Bernie is not just some politician trying to get to the white house, no, he exemplifies a true political activist.
As the 2016 presidential primary nears, I remind you of the weight your vote carries (in more ways than one). The community at La Peña is familiar with the atrocities that occurred in Chile after the coup. For this reason, I urge you to abstain from any thought to vote for Trump, for he himself represents oppression and fascism. While La Peña does not publicly endorse anyone, and I am speaking of my own free-will, I do say that we go to the polls this June and vote Bernie Sanders. If nothing more, this will send a message to our government that we are, in fact, ready for a social democracy.
The best part is, come June 7th, La Peña will be an official polling site, making it easy for the community to come turnout the vote. Remember that California holds semi-closed primaries, meaning that you must be registered as a democrat or ‘no party preference’ aka independent, in order to vote for Bernie Sanders.
The history of U.S. involvement in foreign governments, fighting democratically elected socialist leaders, must come to a halt. As leaders of the free world, we are late to follow the steps of many of our contemporaries in the developed world- on a path toward social democracy. The United States is ready.