It is a truly bittersweet moment to look back and to look moving forward. It is bitter to have lost the primary, but more that bitterness is nothing compared to the joy and the inspiration that the Sanders campaign has given us.
I have been a fan of Sanders since I was 16 years old, and now at the age of 22, I have found myself alongside other students establishing a national organization in support of him. The day I heard that he was running was the first time in my life that I felt compelled to take an active role in campaigning for a candidate.
I remember when I first saw him speak in person at the beginning of his campaign last summer. My friend and I drove all the way to Madison, Wisconsin just to hear him speak. I remember feeling for the first time hopeful for our political system because I knew that the man and politician that I have idealized since I was a teenager in high school was not only speaking but running for President; something that I have hoped for many years.
Throughout my experience working with my fellow students and eboard members of College Students for Bernie, I have not only learned and grown as a political activist, but more importantly I made so many friends along the way; and this is what made the movement so powerful. Although most of us who got involved were strangers to each other, we united under a common goal and a common dream. Sanders lit a spark that started a fire which made us realized that there was millions of people just like you and me who were tired a corrupt system, and wanted to fight to change it.
For one to reflect only in the present moment, it will feel disappointing to see Sanders not get the nomination. But, to reflect in retrospect and then to the present moment, it is inspiring to look not only where the Sanders campaign started, but where College Students for Bernie started as well; and the ability to see how much we have grown as a movement is what allows us to look forward with same burning passion that has gotten us this far.
I look back at last April when we first established the organization, and to see that we were able to get over 260 colleges across the country to take part unifying thousands of students fills my heart with joy.
Yes, the fight was not fair, and yes we did not get what we wanted. But, this fight is far from over. This fight is bigger than Sanders.
We must not give into disappointment or fear. We must use our anger and our disapproval of a corrupt system in a constructive manner.
As we continue onward, we must not lose sight of what brought us together in the first place; it was the willingness and the common dream that we all shared to move this country forward.
Bernie realizes this is a movement, not a moment, and his personal sacrifices are for the best of the progressive movement going forward which will fuel our passions as organizers, agitators, and activists for a country that guarantees basic human rights to all people
And to all that have joined us, please do not give up. We are stronger together; the political revolution must continue. And to all that have taken part in this political revolution, thank you for all the hard work that you have put in.
And to Senator Bernie Sanders, we thank you as well. You taught us that one person can stand up with all the odds against them, and still can change the world. I personally look to you as the type of politician that I wish to be. You have inspired millions of young people to rethink our political system and to take an active role in transforming it. You will go down as one of the greatest leaders in our nation’s history. Thank you!
The fight continues.
Sincerely,
Alex Forgue and the College Students for Bernie executive board
CollegeStudentsForBernie.org