About 10,000 people armed with only campaign buttons, signs of support and excitement braved the long lines to see Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speak at Breslin Center Wednesday night.
A youthful crowd filled the lower and upper bowls and cheered as Sanders took the stage.
“This campaign is listening to young people,” Sanders said.
With an audience of both young and old attendees, Sanders addressed a variety of issues.
In his speech, Sanders highlighted the key issues of his campaign, from LGBT rights to raising the minimum wage.
He also discussed the issue of higher education and said students are being crushed by student debt, going on to say free college is common sense.
As he has stressed throughout most of his campaign, Sanders said millionaires shouldn’t dictate the directions of political campaigns.
Looking out at the packed Breslin Center, Sanders spoke at length about the power of young people and the power of the youth vote.
In order to create a change, Sanders said youth need to get out and vote.
“No real change has ever occurred in the United States from the top on down,” Sanders said. “Change comes about when millions of people look at the world” and decide to take action, he added.
Sanders’ speech at Breslin Center came off the heels of Super Tuesday, where Sanders won the support of multiple states.
Noting how his campaign has grown since it began, Sanders encouraged the attendees to stay hopeful.
“Keep your eyes on the prize and we can make extraordinary things happen,” Sanders said.
He then transitioned to discuss the how other notable politicians have campaigns with considerable linkage to Wall Street.
Sanders said he does not represent corporate America and does not want their money, adding his campaign has flourished with individual donations or small sums.
"This is a campaign of the people, by the people, for the people,” Sanders said.
On the subject of corporate America, Sanders touched on the city of Detroit and said it needs to begin investing in the city over China.
He said several U.S. cities need domestic support. Sanders said his campaign hopes to make the economy work for the middle-class.
“When I talked to these people, I had a hard time believing that I was listening to people who live in the United States in the year 2016,” Sanders said.
He then went on to call for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s resignation.
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“You screwed up badly,” Sanders said.
Sanders said Flint is not the only city in the U.S. with crippling infrastructure. He said his campaign will push for the updating of infrastructure throughout the U.S.
He also discussed another major pillar of his campaign — the effects of Climate change, saying it is real and already causing problems in the U.S.
Sanders said it is irresponsible for the future citizens of the U.S. to be left to deal with the effects of climate change.
While he praised Obamacare, Sanders went on to discuss how expensive healthcare is for people. He said 29 million people still have no health insurance.
The crowd screamed when Sanders said three months of paid maternity leave legislation would be introduced by him if he becomes president.
At the close, he addressed his own electability and the views many have on his probability of winning a general election.
“Together we the American people will defeat Donald Trump,” Sanders said.
Sanders spent his last moments with his enthusiastic crowd encouraging them to vote in the Michigan Primary on March 8.
“It will not happen unless we win the primary here so please go out and vote,” Sanders said.
