Krystal Ramirez / Special to the Sun
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez greets supporters at Chaparral High School in Las Vegas on Dec. 21, 2019. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was in town to support Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign.
Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 | 9:05 p.m.
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat from the Bronx and one of the nation’s most high-profile progressives, called for a progressive wave in the White House during a Las Vegas rally on Saturday at Chaparral High School.
“The reason (progressive policies are) seen as radical is because these policies are dangerous to the established order in the United States of America,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez was in Las Vegas supporting Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Sanders in October.
A crowd of more than 2,150 people turned out to hear Sanders and others speak, packing the school’s gym to what seemed near-capacity.
Sanders is banking his campaign on progressive policies that include single-payer healthcare and a wealth tax. Sanders emphasized his small-donor campaign strategy and bemoaned such policies as the current minimum wage and Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling which removed limits on independent political spending — such as the type done by political action committees..
“What I believe in is a vibrant democracy where ordinary people determine what happens not wealthy campaign contributors,” Sanders said.
Sanders repeatedly referenced the political strength of ordinary Americans, saying he would reject the current powers-that-be on issues such as gun control and fossil fuel development.
“Our administration is going to deal not only with political corruption but with economic inequality,” Sanders said.
The senator’s signature proposal, single-payer government healthcare, was also touted during the event, as he said too many people die from illnesses that could have been treated earlier had they had the resources.
“They die needlessly, unnecessarily because they don’t have insurance and by the time they walk into the doctor’s office their situation is terminal,” Sanders said.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke on the conception that certain progressive policies are radical to Americans, stating that single-payer, government-funded health care and action on climate change are supported by a large number of American voters.
“When they say these policies are dangerous, they’re not dangerous to us, they’re not dangerous to this country, they’re dangerous to the established order and the distribution of wealth in America,” she said.
Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a notable Trump critic, led the crowd in chants of “Si se puede” — ”Yes, we can” — before calling for voters to go to the polls in support of Sanders.
“It’s going to take young people,” she said. “It’s going to take people who have never been part of the political process.”
Ocasio-Cortez called for large voter turnout, as well, and said that all citizens have “something to give” to the process.
“Whether it’s five minutes or whether our life, it’s something to give,” she said.
