poster by soaglow
Yesterday, about 200 people, from four years of age to 74+ years of age, gathered at the Sarasota, FL Bayfront for a "Happy Bernie Day" (Bernie Sanders' birthday) celebration. Participants made some really great homemade signs, and the deluge of rain (we've had 6-7 inches in the last 3-4 days) let up to allow us to walk across the bridge to Longboat key and back--a couple of miles walk, in 92 degree weather at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8--Bernie's Birthday!!!
While we had plenty of the preprinted Bernie campaign posters, we also had several original posters, showcasing Bernie's run for the Presidency.
photo by Veronica Akkerman
Posters also displayed some of Bernie's platform positions, such as reversing climate change:
photo by Veronica Akkerman
We also had a TON of women on hand--from Sarasota and Manatee Counties, as well as from New College, and some of the high schools.
poster by soaglow
One of our grassroots leaders is especially appreciative of Bernie's integrity:
Fearless leader Mica. Photo by Veronica Akkerman
The general feeling was one of elation and excitement to have a candidate who so many of us feel represents the people--from every walk in life:
poster by soaglow
We also have some amazing young artists among us who created some very cool 3-D representations---some of the Millenial contributions to the campaign:
3-D Bernie by Aaron-not pictured. Photo by Veronica Akkerman/
Along the 2+ mile walk, we had trumpets playing; we sang a "Happy Bernie Day" song, and "This land is your land"; drums were beating; chants of "Feel the Bern" wafted over the bay:
poster by soaglow
More walkers displayed policy posters, such as getting "Money out" of Politics!-- Reverse Citizens' United! --"No War for Oil"; "Vote for Sanity"--not the clowns in the Republican Campaign Car!
photo by Veronica Akkerman.
The majority of cars went by honking and waving in appreciation, with maybe three or four 'thumbs down.' Walkers sang, "All we are asking, give Bernie your vote!"
photo by Veronica Akkerman
That's our goal, getting the word out, letting people here know there are a LOT of 'People for Bernie,' people who want to move FORWARD with real PROGRESSIVE CHANGE up and down the ballot, people who are on fire, and motivated to VOTE for Bernie Sanders for President, and for legislative progress at the local level to the Congress and Senate!
This is what this political revolution is about--not to take our country back--wards, but FORWARD --where everyone's voice is heard, every VOTE COUNTS, and our government truly represents, WE, the PEOPLE--not the greed of the corporations and their dys-functional, unequal, punitive, retrograde legislative policies that have infiltrated our local, state and governing legislatures and are experienced by the 99% every single day.
PEOPLE POWER---VOTE!!! WE are the Change we have been waiting for!
poster by soaglow
Go, Bernie! Happy Birthday!!!