On March 21, 2025, over 34,000 people attended a rally at Denver’s Civic Center Park featuring U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This marked the largest crowd in Sanders’ career, highlighting a surge of enthusiasm among Democrats during a week of various events across Colorado. Sanders emphasized the public’s rejection of an “oligarchic form of society,” citing issues like tax breaks for the wealthy at the expense of vital services. Ocasio-Cortez critiqued divisive media and politics, calling for community-building as a defense against authoritarianism.
The rallies, part of Sanders’ “Fight the Oligarchy” tour, drew large crowds and indicated rising disenchantment among voters, especially concerning working-class representation. Attendees expressed a desire for change, feeling abandoned by mainstream Democrats. They voiced concerns about federal cuts to essential programs like Medicaid, exacerbating inequality.
Despite the rally’s presidential-campaign-like energy, Sanders clarified he is not running for president, focusing instead on mobilizing populist resistance against current administration policies and building community solidarity to address systemic issues like corruption and inequality. The events also featured criticisms of Republican representatives, particularly regarding their stances on healthcare and essential services.
