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Senator Bernie Sanders headlines Democratic unity rally in Mesa

Posted at 10:55 PM, Apr 21, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-22 01:56:21-04

Nearly 3,800 people attended a Friday night rally in Mesa headlined by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

Sanders inspired some Arizonans to stand in line for hours to vote in the 2016 presidential preference election, even after Hillary Clinton was announced as the winner on the Democratic ticket.

Sanders told the crowd at the Mesa Amphitheatre Friday that healthcare is a right, not a privilege, and said President Trump is not following through on his promise to fight for working Americans.

He also touched on environmental policy.

“For the love of me, I cannot understand why, in a state like Arizona where you have an extraordinary natural resource like the sun, you are not leading the country [in solar energy]”, Sanders, an Independent, said.

The rally was part of a multi-state tour featuring Sanders and Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez. 

The Republican Party released a statement in response to the event, stating that Arizonans have already voted against Democratic policies. 

President Trump won Arizona in the 2016 election.