Tens of thousands gathered at the Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles on Saturday for a major rally protesting the direction the U.S. is heading under former President Donald Trump. The event was part of Senator Bernie Sanders’ “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, which began in late February and was recently joined by Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).
Many Americans have grown increasingly frustrated with the Democratic Party’s perceived inaction against Trump’s controversial policies, including drastic government funding cuts, anti-immigration measures, and climate change denial.
The LA rally, which Sanders said was the biggest of the tour so far with “some 36,000” attendees, also featured performances by iconic musicians Joan Baez and Neil Young.
“There are some 36,000 of you, the largest rally that we have ever had,” Sanders told the crowd. “Your presence here today is making Donald Trump and Elon Musk very nervous.”
“We are living in a moment where a handful of billionaires control the economic and political life of our country,” said Sanders, an 83-year-old self-declared socialist. He warned that Trump was pushing the U.S. “rapidly toward an authoritarian form of society.”
He also criticized the Republican party, saying it had become a “cult of the individual” obeying Trump’s every wish, and accused Trump of planning a $1.1 trillion tax break for the wealthy.
AOC addressed the crowd with a message of unity:
“No matter your race, religion, gender, identity or status, no matter if you disagree with me on some things … I hope you see that this movement is not about partisan labels or purity tests, but it’s about class solidarity.”
Sanders later made a surprise visit to the Coachella music festival, briefly addressing the crowd:
“I’m not gonna be long but this country faces some very difficult challenges and the future of what happens to America depends on your generation. You can turn away and ignore what goes on but you do it at your own peril.”
“Fighting Oligarchy” rallies have already taken place in cities like Denver and Phoenix, consistently drawing large, energized crowds.