Bernie Sanders in Phoenix: Senator encourages supporters to fight for change, riles opponents

Bernie Sanders returned to Arizona on Sunday, highlighting the delayed successes his 2016 presidential run secured for the Democratic Party and urging voters in the predominantly red state to keep fighting for change.

The 76-year-old independent senator from Vermont rallied supporters — and riled opponents — alongside Democratic Arizona Congressmen Ruben Gallego and Raúl Grijalva at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

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The self-described democratic socialist has maintained a following among liberal Democrats in the nearly two years since he dropped out of the presidential race. He drew a young and diverse crowd Sunday, filling the 1,200-capacity theater.

"People said my ideas were too radical, but now look all over the country," Sanders said, pointing to the uptick in states proposing higher minimum wages and decriminalizing marijuana. He also mentioned the $1 trillion infrastructure plan unveiled by Democrats last week.

Once someone stands up and fights for an unpopular idea, he said, "more and more people start thinking about it, and then it makes sense."

'You are not alone'

Sanders paused to praise U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in July. He described McCain as a man of dignity, courage and decency, wishing him "the best of luck in his struggle" despite their drastically different political views.

He was harder on other Arizona leaders, expressing frustration with the long wait times many voters faced when attempting to cast their ballot in the 2016 presidential primary.

"To the Arizona officials, whether they did this intentionally or not… (It) was a disgrace to democracy," he said. "People should not have to wait seven hours in order to vote."

Sanders encouraged Arizona educators — some of the lowest-paid in the nation — to follow the lead of the 20,000 West Virginia teachers who went on strike for nine days, demanding a raise. Last Wednesday, Arizona teachers wore red to school to protest the low pay they say has exacerbated the state's critical shortage of qualified teachers.

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The West Virginia strike ended last week when the state's Republican-run Legislature unanimously passed legislation approving a 5 percent raise for teachers and state employees.

"They stood up for education, they stopped the whole system and they won," Sanders said.

Sanders also weighed in on immigration, pledging to find a solution that would provide legal status to the roughly 700,000 immigrants with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status. The future of the program, which offered deportation protections for migrants whose parents brought them to the U.S. illegally as children, remains uncertain.

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"I want to say to (DACA recipients) here in Arizona: If you think you're alone, you're not alone," he said. "Poll after poll shows 80 percent or more want to provide legal status to DACA and a path to citizenship."

Immigration comments rile protesters

Protesters made themselves known throughout the rally, chanting "Build the wall!" when immigration was mentioned and booing negative comments made about President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

Police escorted out at least 10 protesters clad in red "Make America Great Again" hats as they clutched signs depicting Trump.

A handful of protesters also gathered outside of the theater after the rally. Phoenix police took precautions to keep opposing groups separated, using barricades to prevent those leaving the event from passing by the protesters.

Sanders wasn't fazed by the hecklers. He stayed focused on firing up support for progressive priorities, including increasing the minimum wage to a "livable" wage of $15 per hour, securing equal pay for women and shifting the national political agenda from benefiting billionaires to working families.

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Sanders gave no hints about whether he was eyeing a 2020 presidential run, nor did he publicly endorse any Arizona candidates running for office.

But he was clearly focused on the future: "Brothers and sisters, change is coming all over America," he said.