Sanders to UWGB crowd: Stay energetic, engaged

Brianna Luster loved what Sen. Bernie Sanders had to say from the moment she heard him speak about social injustice.

On Friday, the Madison native and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay student got to “Feel the Bern” in person. She said she was happy to support a candidate crusading for women, minorities, working class families and other marginalized Americans.

“A lot of times, I don’t think people realize the struggles of the black, Latino or Native American communities,” Luster said. “Not that they necessarily don’t want to see it, but they’re maybe unknowingly blind to it. I think it’s a big problem that Bernie can fix.”

During an hour-long speech in front of about 2,000 people at the Kress Events Center on the UW-Green Bay campus Friday night, Sanders attributed his campaign’s momentum to the broad coalition behind him. He told them if they stay energetic and engaged, he can defeat Hillary Clinton in the April 5 Wisconsin primary and continue battling for the Democratic presidential nomination.

“With your help, we’re going to win Wisconsin,” Sanders said. “We cannot go forward as a nation unless we have the courage to put the real issues out there on the table, dissect them, solve them and go forward.”

To Sanders, the issues to fix start with a rigged economy, corrupt election system and broken criminal justice system. He said they can be solved by listening to Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, women and young people who want change.

“All of you know that real change never comes from the top on down,” he said, “It always comes from the bottom on up.”

Before he took the stage, Sanders said, he met with leaders of several local Native American tribes and pledged to reset the nation’s relationship with tribes. He noted unemployment and poverty are very high among Native Americans and access to health care and education is poor.

“Before we became a nation, when the first settlers came here, the Native American community was lied to, was cheated and treaties that were negotiated were abrogated,” Sanders said. “The truth is the relationship of the United States government to the native people of this country is nothing less than shameful. I think all of you know that we owe the first Americans a debt of gratitude that is not easily repaid. … All I can say is if elected president of the United States, our government will establish a new relationship with the Native American communities.”

Sue Castiglione traveled from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to attend the rally Friday and said Sanders did not disappoint. Castiglione she was very discouraged by politicians and the American government until she heard Sanders.

“I agree with him 1,000 percent,” she said. “Him and (U.S. Sen.) Elizabeth Warren make me think we can pull the country up.”

For Ivan and Angela Colmenares, siblings who live in Green Bay, there wasn’t a moment of Sanders’ speech that didn’t resonate with them. Ivan, 20, and Angela, 14, said they watch their mother, a single parent, go off to work to provide for them.

“Everything he said had to do with how people live today and it’s true,” Angela Colmenares said.

Ivan Colmenares said he felt Sanders was more connected to Latinos, Native Americans and the black community than any other candidate running for president.

“He’s concerned for the youth,” Colmenares said. “And it’s us that care the most about the future other politicians talk about because we will have to live in it.”

Ivan Colmenares said he demonstrated outside the Walter Theatre on the St. Norbert College campus earlier this week when Republican candidate Donald Trump spoke. He said the feeling inside the Kress Center was completely different from the fear and anger he witnessed Wednesday morning.

“There’s a good vibe here,” he said. “There’s support for everyone else.”

At least some Trump supporters decided to take in Sanders’ speech in a silent protest of their own. Green Bay resident Zachary Broullire, 19, said economic policy and immigration are big issues for him. But he said Sanders appealed to him more than his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

“No one comes to close to (Trump) for me,” he said. “I would support anyone but Hillary. I believe that she is bought and sold. Overall, I would support Bernie over Hillary.”

Earlier Friday, Sanders spoke to about 2,000 people at Sheboygan South High School. The Vermont Senator will be back in Green Bay on Monday when he will hold a midday rally at the KI Convention Center.