“Fighting Oligarchy” Town hall tour brings a national endorsement to small-town Wisconsin.

Civic Media correspondent Jennie Brand was on hand to cover it.

Hundreds gather in Viroqua

On Saturday, hundreds of Wisconsin residents flocked to an open-air town hall in Viroqua to hear Senator Bernie Sanders (I – Vermont) and 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Rebecca Cooke speak publicly and address their concerns.

According to Sanders’ Facebook page, more than 1,000 people attended the afternoon event.

Large crowd gathers at Pierce HIll Performing Arts. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

People casually made their way to the venue, laid in the grass as they awaited the start of the event, and enjoyed cold brews, southern-style biscuits, and rye chocolate chip cookies sold on-site by local casual restaurant favorite Maybe Lately’s Food & More.

Crowd spreads across the hillside, awaiting Senator Sanders’ arrival. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

Volunteers gather around a table of campaign materials, signing up new recruits.
// Jennie Brand, Civic Media

Other folks sought out the table run by Cooke for Congress volunteers offering pamphlets, T-shirts, and an opportunity to share their contact information for future volunteer opportunities.

Campaign flyers and volunteer sign-up sheets weighed down with stones. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

Bernie takes the stage

Sanders arrived right on time. Cameras sprang up from the field as he took to the stage in The Barn, his voice carrying across hundreds of faces gathered to witness his endorsement of Cooke.

Congressional candidate Rebecca Cooke takes the stage. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

Attendees huddle the weathered barn doors for a chance to see Sen. Sanders // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

Many of the topics Sen. Sanders addressed during his speech received applause from the crowd — putting power back in the hands of ordinary Americans, healthcare for all, and wages that allow poor and working Americans to live with dignity.

No line received a warmer reception than his call for an end to the war in Gaza.

Diversity on display

One attendee comfortably listening to questions from the community, proudly sports a Libertarian shirt // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

The crowd was politically diverse, with many people donning tees representing everything from “Fighting Bob Fest” and Bernie 2016 to libertarian ideals. One representative from the Coulee Region chapter of Democratic Socialists of America handed out printed copies of the organization’s recent press release critiquing Sanders’ decision to endorse Cooke so early in the race.

Free zines weighed down with stones on a wooden table. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

A Democratic Socialists press release distributed at the rally, critiques Sanders’ endorsement of Cooke. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

The political pair fielded a handful of questions, though it was Sanders who answered most of them. Shortly after the speeches ended, people began to leave, though about half the crowd remained as the event concluded on time.

Crowd approaches parked cars a mile long once the town hall concludes. // Jennie Brand, Civic Media

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