Bernie Sanders rallies massive crowd in Providence
By Bianca Buono
@BBuonoABC6
There was a massive turnout at Roger Williams Park in Providence Sunday for presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders. The Democratic senator rallied the crowd of more than 7,000 people just one day after party front runner Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Ocean State.
"He’s the first truly progressive candidate to come along in my lifetime. I’ve been waiting many years for someone like him,” said Matt O’Halloran of Providence.
"I just love Bernie I think he’s a great candidate and he’s pro social justice which is awesome,” said Savanna Cortvriend of Portsmouth.
The massive crowds filed in towards the park’s Temple to Music and when Sanders finally took the stage, the crowd erupted.
"What I believe today and what I have always believed is that when people stand together united and not divided there is nothing that we cannot accomplish,” said Bernie Sanders.
"His energy was great. It was fantastic. I was raising my sign every two seconds,” said Sanders supporter Debbie Fontaine.
"I thought it was one of the greatest speeches I’ve ever heard like it was better than seeing a Rolling Stones concert,” said Todd Stevens of Warren.
Sanders campaigned in Providence just two days before the state’s primary.
"If we go forward in our personal lives or in our political lives as a nation, we have got to deal with the real issues that we face and not just push them under the rug,” Sanders said.
Well-known actress and Sanders supporter Shailene Woodley also made the trip to Rhode Island.
"Martin Luther King Jr. was a profound organizer. Mandela was a profound organizer. Bernie Sanders is a profound organizer,” Woodley said.
Bernie Sanders said his campaign does best when voter turnout is high so he’s hoping the crowd of more than 7,000 people show up to the polls on Tuesday.
"I would hope that on Tuesday Rhode Island has the largest turnout for a Democratic primary in the history of the state,” said Sanders.
"He’s so full of love and acceptance for everybody,” said Sanders supporter Ericka Carnevale.
"Bernie, on both sides of the aisle, is the only candidate out there that is actually trustworthy,” said Brian Murphy of Fall River.
"He’s for everybody. He accepts people, everybody he’s like a normal citizen,” said Sanders supporter Cosmo Carnevale.
At this late stage in the game, delegate math is of utmost importance. There are 24 of them at stake when voters head to the polls this Tuesday.
© WLNE-TV 2016
