Bernie Sanders has wrapped up his hour-long campaign speech before a crowd of more than 5,000 tonight at the Tucson Convention Center, telling them: "Now is that moment when we look around us and say we can do much, much better."
Taking the stage shortly after 7:30 p.m., Sanders began by saying he thinks he can defeat fellow Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in Arizona's presidential preference election on Tuesday.
He launched into his regular themes, saying his campaign is supported by working families, not by Wall Street.
Sanders joked he is willing to release all of the speeches he gave to Wall Street β "zero" β as he pushes Clinton to release transcripts of her speeches. He said her SuperPac has taken millions from Wall Street.
Many in the crowd booed at any mention of Clinton.
Democracy is not about billionaires buying elections, Sanders said, vowing to overturn the Citizens United court ruling.
Sanders says he is proud of his support from younger votes, and jokingly tells them not to trust anyone under 30.
Sanders warned of a "rigged economy" and said this generation will have a worse standard of living than their parents.
He railed against the Walton family that owns Walmart to get their workers off of welfare and pay them a living wage.
On the topic of student debt, he asked: "Why are we punishing people for what we want them to do?"Β
Student debt levels are a crisis, he said, and says he would allow the refinancing of that debt at the lowest rates possible.
He said there are "cowardly" state legislatures and governors trying to suppress the vote.
"We should make it easier to participate in the election process, not harder," he said, urging a large voter turnout Tuesday to help him win.
Focusing on what he calls a broken criminal justice system, he said he will invest in jobs and education rather than jails.
"I think we are tired of seeing unarmed people being shot," Sanders went on, saying we need to demilitarize local police departments.
"One out of five people who go to a doctor and get a prescription, can't afford to get it filled β that's crazy," he said, turning to health care issues.
"Health care is a right, not a privilege," he said.
Talking next about energy issues, Sanders railed against energy companies and said Arizona should lead the U.S. in solar. He will push for "greener" solutions, he said.
Lamenting the failure to protect the residents of Flint, Michigan, from lead-tainted water, he suggested a public works program to rebuild the U.S.
Before Sanders took the stage, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva introduced him, getting the crowd to boo at his mention of Republican front-runner Donald Trump. Grijalva, a Tucson Democrat, told the crowd Trump "will bring hate to Tucson." Trump will hold a rally at the Tucson Convention Center at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Later in the night, Grijalva urged any protesters at Trump's rally here Saturday to use restraint.
Clinton has not scheduled a Tucson visit in advance of Tuesday's election, but former President Bill Clinton will campaign in Tucson Sunday on her behalf.
"This campaign as far from over, my friends," Grijalva, an early endorser of Sanders, also told the Tucson audience.
Sanders' fans started arriving early this afternoon, long before the doors opened.
American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox warmed up the crowd, singing the Star-Spangled Banner.Β
Citing time constraints, Sanders cancelled all planned media interviews tonight in Tucson.
A gathering of anime fans called Con Nichiwa β also at the TCC β is resulting in an eclectic mix of people in downtown Tucson this evening. The TCC also is where the Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs the popular choral work "Carmina Burana" in the Music Hall tonight.
The Sanders rally was first-come, first-served β as will be his rally in Phoenix on Saturday, March 19, where doors will open at 5 p.m. at Arizona State Fairgrounds, Agriculture Center, 1826 W McDowell Road. The candidate spoke earlier this week to about 7,000 people at the Phoenix Convention Center. Sanders also campaigned in Flagstaff this week.
When Sanders visited Tucson last October, some 11,000 supporters overwhelmed Reid Park and lined up beyond the barriers of the amphitheater.
Follow tonight's event live below:
