More than 8,000 people gathered in Tulsa Wednesday evening, and many more didn’t make it through the doors for a rally led by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
The line stretched nearly a mile, and it took hours for some supporters to get inside. The Sanders campaign said nearly 6,900 people made it inside the exhibit hall, with another 2,000 staying outside after the doors were closed.
The crowd chanted, “Bernie! Bernie!” as the Vermont Senator took the stage. During a 50-minute speech, Sanders called for justice reform and committing more resources to the workforce.
"Together, we are going to invest in jobs and education for our youth, not jails and incarceration,” Sanders said.
The Democratic presidential hopeful said Republican frontrunner Donald Trump is trying to divide the nation. Sanders also called for an end to what he called a "corrupt economy."
"Together we are going to create an economy that works for working families, not just the 1 percent,” Sanders said.
He also described plans to overhaul the criminal justice system, change Wall Street, and offer debt relief to college students. Sanders said people who work 40 hours per week should not be living in poverty and women should have pay equality with men. He also urged a Medicare program for all citizens.
Some people waited in line more than 12 hours to see Sanders. After the rally, Sanders briefly spoke to many of the people still in line who never made it inside the venue.
Before his address, Sanders and his wife visited the Woody Guthrie Center in the nearby Brady Arts District.
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