Bernie Sanders on the livestream of his rally for Joe Biden in Kerrytown, Ann Arbor, Oct. 5. Voice Photo
By Xailia Claunch
Editor
Sen. Bernie Sanders returned to Ann Arbor for a “virtual rally” on Monday afternoon, urging young people to vote for former vice president Joe Biden.
While promoting his own presidential campaign, his last visit to the University of Michigan campus in March attracted over 10,000 attendees. This rally, according to Sanders, had an in-person crowd of around 25, in compliance with Ann Arbor’s COVID-19 guidelines. The event was live streamed on Sanders’ website and on Twitch for the rest of the audience.
“This is a generation unlike the current president of the United States, that knows that climate change is real, that it is imperative that we stand up to the fossil fuel industry and that we are going to need action in order to create a planet that will be healthy for our children and grandchildren. This generation understands all that,” said Sanders.
Sanders urged young Michigan voters in particular to get out and vote, due to Michigan’s history as a battleground state.
“In 2016, Donald Trump won this state and its 16 electoral votes by two-tenths of one percent. The stakes are just too high, we cannot allow that to happen again,” Sanders said. “What happens here can well determine the future of the entire United States of America.”
Sanders lost to Biden in the Washtenaw County presidential primary, earning 45% of the vote in comparison to Biden’s 47.6%. Sanders eventually dropped out of the race in April, leaving the Democratic nomination to Biden.
Sanders advocated for Biden’s plans which include increasing the minimum wage, prison system and border patrol reforms and reducing or cancelling student debt.
Sanders acknowledged his differences with Biden when it comes to healthcare, but still emphasized that Biden would make improvements on the current system.
Michigan voters can register to vote online or by mail until Oct. 19, and can register to vote in person until election day on Nov. 3. Absentee ballots must be requested by 5:00 p.m. on Oct. 30, and returned by Nov. 2 by mail, and Nov. 3 in person.
To register to vote, visit here.
