SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A crowd over 1,000 was on hand for Bernie Sanders’ second stop in the Mountain State in South Charleston Thursday afternoon.
Sanders had just come from an invitation-only event in poverty stricken McDowell County, and he used the visit to further his message on income inequality, telling the crowd that poverty is a death sentence.
“In the wealthiest country, America, we have a life expectancy gap between McDowell County and Fairfax County, Virginia of 18 years. 18 years!,” exclaimed the Vermont Senator.
Sanders said it was time to have a discussion about what poverty really is in America.
“What poverty means is the stress of trying to determine how you’re going to feed your family and your kids that week,” he said. “How you’re going to have enough money to put gas in the car to get to work.”
One of Sanders key messages Thursday afternoon, and one of the trademarks of his campaign, was that the American economy is rigged.
“A rigged economy is when the wealthiest family in this country, the Walton family, of Walmart, has $149 billion in wealth. One family, more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of the American people,” Sanders said.
As has been seen with Sanders’ rallies across the country, many in the crowd were people in their 20’s and 30’s.
“I believe hes looking out for the common man and equality for our nation,” said John Pettry.
Kari Wilger, of Charleston, said she supported Sanders because of his clean energuy agenda and his desire for peace.
“Senator Sanders believes that the number one threat to our country and to the world is global warming, which I agree with,” she said. “I don’t support more and more wars, that the United States has gotten involved with. I believe that peace is the best alternative for our future.”
Despite Hillary Clinton close to sealing the Democratic nomination, most of his supporters were willing to vote for Sanders no matter what.
“It’s Bernie all the way for me,” declared Rusty Williams of Nitro. “A vote for Hillary is a vote for war, and I will not vote for war.”
Before the vent, Del. Mike Pushkin (D-Kanawha) entertained the crowd by singing and playing the guitar. Sanders was introduced by McDowell County teacher and House of Delegates candidate Sabrina Shrader.
Sanders will be in Morgantown tonight for a 7 p.m. rally at the Waterfront Place Hotel, at the same time as Donald Trump is holding an event at the Charleston Civic Center.