Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez held a rally in Greeley and Denver as part of a speaking tour they call “The Fighting Oligarchy” tour. 11,000 reportedly attended the Greeley rally and 34,000 at Civic Center Park in Denver, reportedly the largest political event in Denver since Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
During the Greeley speech, Sanders said that “we will not accept the richest guy in the world running all over Washington making cuts to the Social Security Administration, cuts to the Veterans Administration, almost destroying the Department of Education all so that they can give almost a trillion dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest one percent.”
Sanders said he would fight against any cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the VA. Elon Musk, who is a consultant with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has promised to cut waste and fraud from these programs, but has also said there is no intention to cut benefits from those who legally qualify.
The White House released a statement on March 11 denying claims that there will be cuts to social security benefits while accusing the media of lying. The SSA announced on February 28 that it would be reducing “the size of its bloated workforce and organizational structure, with a significant focus on functions and employees who do not directly provide mission critical services.”
The agency is cutting 7,000 jobs, a total reduction of 12.2 percent, down to 50,000 total employees. NPR reported last week about concerns that beneficiaries will have a more difficult time handling problems with the announced staffing reductions.
Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez reintroduced the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act last week and have also mentioned it during the speeches on this tour. In the press release, Sanders said that “in these difficult times, we must move forward boldly to address the systemic and existential crises facing us today and that includes urgently combating climate change and making sure every American has a safe and decent place to call home…. It is unacceptable that we have not done more to transform our energy systems, our communities, and our infrastructure away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy.”
Ocasio-Cortez called out Representative Gabe Evans, who represents Colorado's 8th congressional district, for not holding a town hall for his constituents in Greeley. She wrote on X to Representative Evans: “Your constituents say hi! There’s a couple thousand more outside too. They have some questions about your cuts to veteran’s care.”
Evans didn’t make a direct statement regarding the rally, but his office issued a press release including a quote from a spokesperson and another quote from Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert.
“Democrats may not know what their brand is right now, but Congressman Gabe Evans knows his,” the release said.” Congressman Evans is fighting for lower costs, safer communities, and making the American Dream possible for all Coloradans. His commonsense approach stands in stark contrast to AOC and Bernie Sanders’ extreme, anti-oil and gas rhetoric.”
Boebert said that the “Green New Deal scams will crush Colorado oil and gas jobs.” The press release says that “82 percent of all crude oil production and 56 percent of all natural gas production in Colorado comes from Weld County.”
In the press release from Senator Sanders’ office, Ocasio-Cortez said that “the Green New Deal for Public Housing Act will allow for an increase in public housing units, create an estimated 280,000 jobs, and invest up to $23 billion a year over ten years for highly energy-efficient developments.”
