Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally thousands of Tucson progressives

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An estimated 20,000 people packed in and around the football stadium of Tucson’s Catalina High School for the final stop on the progressive “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, headlined by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The progressive leaders focused heavily on wealth inequality, funding and staffing cuts of government programs, and the power of Elon Musk and other billionaires within the first two months of Donald Trump’s second term.

“I don't care if you're a conservative Republican or a progressive, does anybody think it makes sense that we have a campaign finance system where one man, Musk, can put $270 million to get Trump elected, and then his reward is that he becomes the most powerful person in government? That is not democracy, that is oligarchy,” Sanders said.

He called for Democrats to support unions and elect progressive local leaders to “fight Trumpism and the billionaire class.”

“I do know that at the end of the day, 99% is a hell of a bigger number than 1%,” he said.

The rally comes during widespread criticism from left-leaning voters who are dissatisfied with Democrat’s response to near-total Republican control, with a new CNN poll suggesting favorability ratings as low as 29%.

Natalie Callahan said she attended the rally hoping to hear about a Democratic plan to combat the Trump administration.

“It's so incredibly frustrating to lose to such a horrible candidate again, and then just still getting fundraiser texts and emails from Democratic officials that we have voted for and supported that aren't doing anything, but they want us to spend more money,” Callahan said.

Other supporters said they attended the rally to find a sense of community.

“I'm a disabled veteran. This isn't the government or the country that I went to overseas for, that I grew up with,” said Miguel Franco. “I think right now, there's a lot of systematic dismantling of key departments within our government, and I'm here to throw my support against those who are trying to protect us.”

Jay Croswell, a physical therapist at El Rio Health Center, spoke to the crowd about the potential impacts of Medicaid cuts.

“Just because Medicaid funding is cut, does not mean that our patients' medical issues go away. The burden of care will be shifted onto hospitals and other medical facilities that are already strained,” he said.

Ocasio-Cortez then criticized Arizona Republicans who voted for the expected Medicaid cuts included in the budget resolution.

“Every single Republican in Arizona voted to cut Medicaid. Not an accusation, it was their vote,” she said.

The resolution directs the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut over $880 billion dollars over the next ten years, much of which is expected to come from Medicaid, the largest portion of the budget overseen by that committee.

Both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez gave remarks about the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died March 13.

“Raúl Grijalva was the first person to open his door to me, and he welcomed me, and he said, ‘you belong here,’” Ocasio-Cortez said.

Grijalva was the first member of Congress to endorse Sanders’ presidential campaign in 2015, according to Politico.

“He said, ‘Bernie is speaking what has to be said,’ and he had the guts to come out and endorse me and take on the whole Democratic establishment,” Sanders said.

Amidst speculation that she will enter the race for Congressional District 7, Grijalva’s daughter, Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva also gave a speech encouraging Southern Arizona Democrats that “this bro-ligarchy has got to go.”

“I realized that there is no better way to honor my dad than to add my voice to this event,” she said. “I want to join his friends, who also fight for those who have no voice, can always be counted on to speak truth to power, and show us what is possible when we stand up for justice, equity and dignity for all.”