Coachella’s star-studded surprise guest list just got bigger. Ahead of Clairo’s set at the Outdoor Theater, Congressman Maxwell Frost and Senator Bernie Sanders shocked the crowd by making a brief appearance.
“This country faces some very difficult challenges. The future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation,” Sanders said. “You can turn away and ignore what goes on, but if you do, you do it at your own peril.”
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In addition to warning festival goers of the challenges ahead, the Vermont senator urged the crowd to stand up against the Trump administration. The crowd booed at the mention of the president’s name, prompting Sanders to say “I agree.”
Sanders went on to denounce the president’s statements on the environment (“He thinks that climate change is a hoax. He is dangerously wrong.”) and prompt revelers to stand up for women’s rights to control their own bodies. His speech also touched upon the urgency of fighting back against billionaires, touting healthcare as a human right, and hailing Clairo for her own advocacy work.
“Clairo has used her prominence to fight for women’s rights, to try to end the terrible brutal war in Gaza where thousands of women and children are being killed,” he said. “So I want to thank Clairo not only for being in a great band, but for the great work she’s doing.”
Ahead of his surprise appearance at Coachella, Sanders held a record-breaking crowd at his Los Angeles “Fight the Oligarchy” rally. Joined by New York representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the duo saw at least 36,000 people—a career-high for both politicians.
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“Power, greed and corruption are taking over our country like never before,” AOC said at the L.A. rally. Sanders echoed his Coachella statements, calling out both Elon Musk and Trump.
“They’ve got billions and billions of dollars (and) it’s not enough: They need more. And if they have to step on the poor and the disabled and working class people, that is what they will do unless we stop them and we will stop them,” he said.
Sanders also urged people to make this revolution with joy. “We’re going to sing and dance our way to victory against hatred and divisiveness.”
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