More than 15,000 pack Seattle Center for Sanders

This week one year ago, thousands of hoop-hungry fans packed KeyArena for the second and third rounds of the NCAA tournament.

That same level of passion was back at Seattle Center on Sunday, March 20 — this time, it was without the basketball. 

These people weren’t feeling the magic of March Madness. Rather, they were just feeling the Bern.

With the state’s Democratic caucuses looming less than a week away, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders brought his calls for a political revolution to Seattle on Sunday, as part of a whirlwind afternoon that took him from Vancouver, Wash., to other parts of Western Washington, to Spokane — all in the span of less than 10 hours.

Lines snaked their way around KeyArena several hours before Sanders was scheduled to speak, as thousands eagerly awaited the chance to hear from the longtime member of Congress.

Among those in line well before the 5 p.m. speech was Sally Brownfield of Olympia, Wash.

“We finally have a chance to get somebody in office who really cares about the people,” she said.

Meanwhile, making his way through the crowd, with a mirror in his hands, was Christopher Van Putten.

“The mirror is a very, very powerful tool,” he said. “It alone is its own method of showing one of the most powerful metaphors of self-reflection, for people to be able to recognize what it is, why they’re doing it, how they’re doing it and where they’re doing it.”

Van Putten said at this point, it was “very much down to a common-sense decision” for people to support Sanders.

Messages for the masses

By the time of Sanders’ remarks, the campaign said more than 10,000 people were inside the arena.

But before he headed inside, Sanders spoke to the thousands gathered outside the arena, spurring a mad dash from the stage in front of the International Fountain to the KeyArena east box office, where the 74-year-old took the microphone.

In both those brief remarks and his larger speech, he touched on many of the issues that have become the hallmarks of his campaign: the influence of corporate interests in the political system, the need for free college and the reduction of student debt, and the expansion of Social Security.

He also had praise for Seattle’s efforts in establishing a $15 minimum wage.

On the other hand, Sanders had sharp critiques of the Republican race and denounced the rhetoric of GOP front-runner Donald Trump.

He also encouraged the crowd to participate in next week’s caucuses, citing his victories in states where the turnout was large.

“The big-money interests quite truly do not want people to participate in the political process,” he said. “They understand that if you working people don’t vote and young people don’t vote, the big-money interests will always win. “Well, next Saturday, let’s give them a miserable day,” he continued. “Let us have a record-breaking turnout here in Washington. And if we do, we’re going to win, and Washington will help make the political revolution.”

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