Bernie Pleads for Progressive Support During Bronx Presser

Bernie Campaigns for AOC, Bowman in Bronx

Trying to bring support for Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-16) Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders held a special roundtable with four reporters from the Yankee Conference Room of the Opera Hotel on East 149 Street in Mott Haven on June 22. -Photo by David Greene

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

June 24, 2024 

BRONX - Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders stopped in the Bronx for a last-minute campaign rally for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-14) and Jamaal Bowman (D-16) but first held a roundtable with four selected journalists, including the Bronx Voice.

Held at the Opera Hotel on East 149 Street in Mott Haven on June 22, Sanders fielded a variety of questions from local reporters. 

Asked what his message to “progressives” who may also may be anti-Zionists, Sanders replied, “What I hear overwhelmingly with maybe very, very few exceptions, is that Hamas is a terrorist organization pledged to destroy Israel.”

Sanders said that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, “has gone to war against the Palestinian people.” He added, “And according to the ICC, the International Criminal Court, has committed war crimes.”

On Bowman, Sanders offered, “Right now Jamaal is a strong progressive. You know he believes in medical for all. He understands the severity of the climate crisis and wants bold action. He’s an educator. He believes that all of our kids, regardless of their income, should have the right to get a higher education without going into deep debt.”

Sanders added, “He’s a strong progressive and that is not something that the establishment feels uncomfortable with.”

Sander’s visit to the Bronx was to support Bowman in his campaign and to try and counter the millions of dollars given to challenger George Latimer, the current Westchester County Executive by the AIPAC Super PAC.

Sanders was asked how Democrats can overcome what the Sanders camp claim is a 10-to-1 spending on the Latimer campaign, Sanders replied, “You’ve got to get rid of Citizen United. You need public funding for elections,” as well as reform both the political system and the campaign finance system.

Asked if the average voter knows or cares about the spending by the AIPAC Super PAC on the Latimer campaign, Sanders replied, “For the future of this country, you cannot allow billionaires to buy elections.”

Sanders' last public appearance in the Bronx was during his 2016 presidential campaign rally in St. Mary's Park. 

According to the Bowman campaign website, the Latimer campaign has spent over $14.5 million on ads featuring “misinformation” against Bowman.

The Bronx Voice has sought comment from the Latimer campaign on Sanders’ claim of billionaires attempting to buy Bowman’s seat, but Latimer did not immediately respond to the inquiry.

To see the full interview with Senator Bernie Sanders click here:

https://youtu.be/sbx1D9NPefE