Key takeaways from the Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally in SLC

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Thousands of Utahns filled the 15,000-seat Jon M. Huntsman Center at the University of Utah on April 13 to listen to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speak as part of Sanders’ “

Sponsored

Fighting Oligarchy” tour.

“When it comes to standing up to Trumpism there is no such thing as a red state,” Sanders posted on social media after the event.

Before starting her speech, Ocasio-Cortez said an estimated 5,000 people “who just want to be part of this moment” were waiting outside of the venue. Also, outside the venue, a small group of dissenters gathered to.

“If this many people show out in a red state, you can imagine how activated and upset people are across the country,” Sebastian Stewart-Johnson, co-founder of the Black Menaces, told ABC4.com.

Here is a brief rundown of what happened at the rally.

What did Sanders speak about?

“I have to thank Trump for educating the American people about what oligarchy is,” Sanders said, referring to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg being present at President Trump’s inauguration.

“We are living in a moment where a handful of billionaires control our government,” Sanders said.

Sanders said he is fighting for a government that represents the American people, “not just the one percent.” Much of Sanders’ nearly hour-long speech touched on the actions the country’s wealthiest people, including the actions of Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency.

Sanders called out corruption in both the Republican and Democratic parties. He said “criticism is an essential part of democracy” and called out the Trump administration for “going after” judges and universities.

“Brothers and sisters, we’re not just fighting oligarchy,” Sanders said. “We’re fighting a president who undermines our constitution every day….”

Sanders also spoke on the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war, calling out President Trump for saying Ukraine started the former, and criticizing former President Joe Biden for providing money to Israel’s government.

“It’s not AOC, and it’s not Bernie — it is you,” Sanders told the crowd. “You don’t need leaders, we need a mass movement of millions of people.”

What did Ocasio-Cortez say?

“We’re here because an extreme concentration of power, greed, and corruption is taking over this country like never before,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “Oligarchy in America.”

Ocasio-Cortez discussed topics like federal layoffs, LGBTQ+ rights, and the immigration crackdown from the Trump administration. She also called out Republican politicians in Utah, including Sen. John Curtis, Sen. Mike Lee, Rep. Celeste Maloy, and Rep. Blake Moore.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said the people “are the last and strongest defense of our country and our freedoms.” She attributed the “destruction” of rights to the “growing and extreme wealth inequality” in the country, criticizing Elon Musk.

The New York congresswoman also claimed that President Trump’s tariff reversal was a way to manipulate the stock market to “quietly enrich his friends.” She also called the president a criminal and referred to his 34 felony convictions.

“We know that a better world is possible, and we are willing to do something about it,” she said.

Who else spoke at the event?

About an hour before speakers took the stage, Sen. Nate Blouin (D-UT) welcomed attendees. The rally featured introductory speakers Sarah Buck, with the organization Salt Lake Indivisible; Mike Alosi, a fired federal worker; Benjamin Jolley, an independent pharmacist; and former Senate candidate Caroline Gleich.

“Our democracy is not for sale,” Gleich said, encouraging the crowd to chant with her.

Ocasio-Cortez took the stage at around 6:30 p.m. and spoke for roughly 30 minutes before Sanders walked on stage to John Lennon’s “Power to the People.” Sanders spoke for nearly an hour, with the event wrapping up just before 8 p.m.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez are headed to Idaho and Montana for the next stops on the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.

MJ Jewkes contributed to this report.