Bernie Sanders tells Democratic Party to 'open the doors, let the people in'

During a speech Tuesday night, Bernie Sanders echoed earlier remarks he made about the Democratic Party, saying it is going to have to make a "very, very profound and important decision."

"It can do the right thing and open its doors and welcome into the party people who are prepared to fight for real economic and social change," he told supporters in Carson, California. "That is the Democratic Party I want to see, bringing in people who are willing to take on Wall Street, to take on corporate greed, and to take on a fossil fuel industry which is destroying this planet."

Speaking directly to the "leadership of the Democratic Party," Sanders said they need to "open the doors, let the people in, or the other option for the Democratic Party, which I see as a very sad and tragic option, is to choose to maintain its status quo structure, remain dependent on big money campaign contributions, and be a party with limited participation and limited energy and a party which, incredibly, is allowing a right-wing extremist Republican Party to capture the votes of a majority of working people in this country." Sanders added he "will be damned" if the "Republican Party, whose job is to represent the rich and the powerful," wins "the votes of working class Americans."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Earlier in the day, Sanders condemned "any and all forms of violence," but did not apologize for supporters who threw chairs Saturday at the chaotic Nevada Democratic convention and then sent threatening messages to the state chairwoman, amid claims of bias against Sanders. The senator from Vermont said he has held multiple rallies "all across the country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been zero reports of violence," and "the Democratic leadership used its powers to prevent a fair and transparent process from taking place." Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said on CNN his response was "anything but acceptable," and added "more fuel to the fire. You can be frustrated with the process but in the United States of America, especially the Democratic Party, it is never appropriate to act in any way other than civilly and in an orderly fashion."