Bernie Sanders To Bring 'Vision Of Change' To Huge Progressive Rally In Chicago

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 9, 2017 5:40PM

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks at the Our Revolution Massachusetts Rally in March / Getty Images / Scott Eisen

The Democratic Party has seen its share of power precipitously diminish in governorships and state legislatures across the country in recent years, not to mention its stake, now minority, in both Congressional houses and—it goes without saying—the gut-punch upset loss of the presidential election in 2016. It's all left the Party understandably grasping for direction.

Just how to advance ahead amidst so much turmoil will reportedly be one of the themes addressed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, the former presidential nominee in the Democratic primary and longtime independent lawmaker from Vermont, when he takes the stage in Chicago on Saturday evening to deliver the keynote address at this weekend's People's Summit.

“It’s going to be a turning point for the people who have been really invested in the Bernie revolution,” Winnie Wong, a summit organizer, told the Guardian. Sanders is scheduled to deliver his speech, which carries the very Bernie-esque title 'The Political Revolution Now,' at 7 p.m. on Saturday. Chicagoist has reached to the Sanders camp and will update with more information about the Senator's speech if it becomes available.

The three-day progressive summit will feature more than 100 speakers, including notables such as author Naomi Klein, activist journalist Shaun King, and actors such as Jesse Eisenberg and Danny Glover. A full list of those scheduled to address crowds can be found here. People for Bernie, National Nurses United, Our Revolution and MoveOn.org are among the many activist organizations supporting the summit.

The massive gathering of and for progressive activists takes place at the McCormick Center, from June 9 through 11. Organizers called the event a "political education for organizers ahead of 2018." Anti-Trumpists can think of it as bootcamp for the current struggle and all those ahead.

"People have been energized by many movements around the country for several years, for health care reform, immigration rights, criminal justice reform, the climate crisis, and calls for Wall Street reform," Charles Idelson, a spokesperson for the People's Summit, told Chicagoist.

"It's not enough just to oppose the right wing, but you have to offer people a vision of change and hope for the future," he added.

For those who didn't register ahead to attend, the full event will be streamed live via People's Summit here.