NEW HAVEN – Bernie Sanders made a campaign appearance on the New Haven Green Sunday as part of an effort to rally support ahead of the Democratic primary...





NEW HAVEN - Bernie Sanders made a campaign appearance on the New Haven Green Sunday as part of an effort to rally support ahead of the Democratic primary on Tuesday.

Sanders’ rally was open to the public and free to attend. Crowds began filing in around 4 p.m., and the program started just after 7 p.m. According to his campaign, an estimated 14,000 people were at the event.

Special guest speaker Michael Stipe, best known as the frontman for the group R.E.M., introduced Sanders to the audience and gave a short speech conveying his support for the candidate, who promises to bring economic justice to Wall Street, solve income inequality, protect and preserve the environment and more.

The Democratic candidate addressed many issues, including his push to make college tuition free and debt free, localizing it to Connecticut.

"Here, with one of the great universities in the world a few blocks away from here, kids in a billion years would never dream that they could even get a college education," Sanders said.

The candidate brought up both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, to underscore why he feels he is the best choice for President.

"We are taking and fighting for issues that the establishment would prefer to sweep right under the rug," Sanders said.

Supporters such as first-in-line Brandon Dorfman said his vote goes to Sanders because he is unlike other candidates.

"His campaign is from the people, for the people, which I have yet to hear from any other candidate," Dorfman said.

Gerlach traveled to the Connecticut rally from Pennsylvania to support the candidate.

"He’s not corporate America. He doesn’t get his money from Wall Street. He doesn’t get his money from the rich billionaires and CEOs," Gerlach said. "I don’t necessarily agree with him on every issue but when it comes to money and politics I’m with him 100 percent."

Supporter Andy Zander supporting Sanders so much so, he plans to give people rides to vote.

"We need people to 'feel the Bern.' We need people out Tuesday," Zander said. "Tuesday I’m going to be using my car to give people that don’t have rides to the polls, a ride. That’s what we need."

Sanders urged Connecticut voters to hit the polls for the primary and break voting records for Democrats.

"Let us have the great state of Connecticut help lead this country into the political revolution," he said.