Thank You, Bernie Sanders

Thank you, Senator Bernie Sanders.

We have been inspired and engaged by the Bernie Sanders campaign and his bold push to transform the lives of working people everywhere. Today, we are deeply saddened by the suspension of his campaign. We are also more grounded in our belief that building power is how we will win the world we deserve.

It is UP TO US to build a society that works for all of us. This COVID-19 crisis lays bare the racism and the inequality built into our system. We know people of color and the poor are bearing the brunt of economic and health hardships. People are being forced to risk their health for low paying jobs; people are being caged and incarcerated unable to protect themselves from the virus. We know that policy could change this reality and prevent this from ever happening again, but inaction, cowardice and greed from our elected leaders means that tens of thousands will die.

Senator Bernie Sanders is what leadership should look like in this moment. From his demands for stimulus programs to benefit workers above corporations, his consistent engagement with voters through virtual townhalls and teach-ins, and his loud reproach at Wisconsin and the Supreme Court for forcing an in-person primary during a pandemic.

Bernie Sanders is what leadership should look like in all levels of government - shining a light on injustice and demanding that all of us have basic human rights to housing, to healthcare, to education, to a healthy planet and to a living wage.

The two Presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders have forever altered the American political landscape. Sanders ran on ideas that were previously considered “too radical” for American politics -- but we now know are popular and practical.

Reclaim Philadelphia was formed in the wake of Bernie’s 2016 campaign by former campaign staff and volunteers who believed deeply in the concept of “Not Me, Us.” We knew then that we would need to continue organizing for change at all levels of society. We knew then and we know now that we can not depend on any one candidate, any one politician, or any one organization to bring all of the change we need. We know that it is up to us to organize together.

Today we’re mourning the lost chance to elect a candidate who shares our vision and fought for so many decades to right the wrongs of our world. Our grief, anger and fear are valid responses to the world as it is. We should all take the time to grieve and allow ourselves the compassion to feel our feelings in this moment.

As we move from grief into action, we take inspiration from the words of Audre Lorde:
“Revolution is not a one time thing.”

Though we may be exhausted, we find hope in our movement family in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania Stands Up. We find hope in our members and supporters who will continue to fight for criminal justice reform, housing as a human right, medicare for all, healthy and fully funded schools and dignity for all workers including a living wage. We find hope in candidates like Nikil Saval, Rick Krajewski, Elizabeth Fiedler and Chris Rabb, whose values and platforms echo Bernie’s vision here at home.

Our movement continues. It must. Bernie remains on the ballot to collect delegates to influence the DNC and our movement must continue to demand more of any Democratic candidate who is asking for our vote. We have been growing together since 2016 and will continue to build power together until our country, state and city nourish and protect every one of us.