Bernie Sanders to host Phoenix rally with two Arizona congressmen

PHOENIX — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will host a rally on Sunday in downtown Phoenix alongside Arizona Democrats, Reps. Ruben Gallego and Raul Grijalva.

The senator will speak at noon at the Orpheum Theater, located near Second Avenue and Adams Street. Former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner will also be part of the rally.

Admission will be on a first-come, first-served basis, though people can RSVP online.

Sanders was expected to speak on an array of topics during the two-hour rally, including the need for immigration reform and the need to ensure every American has health care. He will also encourage people to vote for progressive candidates, according to the event announcement.

The former Democratic presidential candidate is certainly no stranger to Arizona.

Sanders held multiple rallies in the state during his run for the Democratic nomination two years ago. He traveled as far south as Tucson and as far north as Flagstaff in his efforts to drum up support.

After eventual nominee Hillary Clinton beat him out for his party’s ticket, Sanders returned to the Grand Canyon State multiple times to campaign on her behalf.

President Donald Trump ended up winning in Arizona by nearly 4 percentage points.

The president held a rally of his own in Phoenix in August that ended with Phoenix police using tear gas and pepper balls to disperse angry crowds. The city paid more than $560,000 in overtime to police officers and firefighters who worked the protest.

Officials later blamed some of the violence on radical left-wing groups known as antifa.

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