In photos: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders visits western Wisconsin

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

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

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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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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Diversity on display

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.

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.

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