GETTYSBURG – About 2,500 people turned out to hear Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speak today at Gettysburg College about what he said is a moral obligation to change the economic and educational systems.

“It is not a sustainable economy. It is not a moral economy,” Sanders said, explaining that the financial gap between the wealthiest and poorest Americans is too large. He also said the U.S.’s broken criminal justice system needs to be fixed, and that the government needs to increase funding for higher education.

Morality was a key theme of Sanders’ campaign stop in Gettysburg, which started with the reading of the Gettysburg Address. U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who introduced Sanders to the crowd, read the first few lines of the historic speech, ending with “the proposition that all men are created equal.” Once on stage, Sanders continued reading the address, then added a few lines of his own.

“Government ‘of the people, by the people and for the people’ does not mean billionaires and Wall Street and the fossil fuel industry and corporate interests pouring huge sums of money into super PACs,” Sanders said. He emphasized the need to change how political campaigns are financed in the U.S., saying the current system is corrupt.

Along with campaign finance reform and income inequality, Sanders said the U.S. should have tuition-free colleges and universities. He said that working in the government to pass legislation is a challenge, but finding out where opposing sides agree is the first step toward a solution.

“You walk away feeling pretty good,” he said.

Sanders’ shortened stump speech was geared toward the hundreds of students from Gettysburg College and other schools, such as Shippensburg University, in attendance. SU student Alexa DeFrancesco joined Lillie Hawkins, who plans to attend SU in the fall, to support Sanders at the town hall event.

“He seems like he is really honest,” said Hawkins, who plans to vote for Sanders in Pennsylvania’s primary on April 26.

“He’s been an advocate for human rights for as long as he has been [in politics],” DeFrancesco said in explaining why she supports Sanders. She also plans on voting for Sanders on Tuesday, but is not confident he can win the primary.

“I heard mixed views,” DeFrancesco said about how well Sanders is expected to do in Pennsylvania after losing in New York against rival Hillary Clinton. “I heard he’s not doing well, but we’ll see.”

Despite a jubilant crowd that welcomed Sanders to the stage with ear-piercing screams, not everyone in the audience supported the Vermont senator.

Angela Holzer, a Republican who is leaning toward supporting Donald Trump, came to see Sanders with her co-workers. Holzer said her colleagues are strong advocates for getting involved in the political process, which is why they took Holzer with them to see Sanders.

Sanders gave a relatively short, 30-minute speech, leaving time to take questions and speak in depth on various issues.

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