By MEE staff
Apr 16, 2025
Many have lashed out at the veteran senator for looking on as banner was removed and protesters ejected from venue
US Senator Bernie Sanders is facing a deluge of criticism on social media after a “Free Palestine” flag unfurled by pro-Palestine activists at a rally in the state of Idaho was taken down, and the protesters were ejected from the venue.
Over 12,500 people filled the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa on Monday night, where Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged attendees to rise above political divisions and resist what they called the increasing influence of billionaires over American politics.
Dubbed as “The Fighting Oligarchy Tour” on Sanders’ website, the two politicians said they aim to “have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country”.
But at the Idaho leg of the tour, Sanders faced fierce backlash for not reacting to the police treatment of the protesters during or after the rally.
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Anti-genocide protesters silenced at Bernie Sanders “Fighting Oligarchy” rally
Jacob Crosse
Apr 16,2025
For nearly two months, tens of thousands of people across the United States have been attending rallies held under the banner of “Fighting Oligarchy” and headlined by Bernie Sanders and Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) member and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The rallies have drawn large crowds not only in major cities, but also in areas that have traditionally supported Republican candidates. After 36,000 people—the largest crowd in Sanders’ career—rallied in Los Angeles on April 12, the following night another 20,000 people gathered in Salt Lake City, Utah. On April 14, in Nampa, Idaho, 12,500 people filled the Ford Idaho Center arena to capacity. Some 9,000 turned out in Missoula, Montana, Wednesday evening.
On April 5, millions of people took part in mass protests against the Trump administration in over 1,500 cities and towns throughout the United States. The substantial attendance at these rallies and protests expresses the broad and deep opposition within the population to Trump’s fascist agenda. Millions of people are outraged over unending genocide and war, attacks on democratic rights, living standards, immigrants and students, and the efforts by the Trump administration to erect a fascist dictatorship.
The size and scope of these rallies put to rest Trump’s lie, echoed by the media, that he has a “mandate” and that his trampling of the Constitution and Bill of Rights has broad support. The democratic traditions, ideas and principles that animated and guided the Revolutions of 1776 and 1861-1865 have not been forgotten and will not be given up without a fight by the working class.
However, it is necessary to take stock of the political tendencies claiming to be “fighting oligarchy.” What role do Sanders, his protégé Ocasio-Cortez and the Democratic Party play in this struggle?
An episode in Nampa, Idaho helps answer this question. Two anti-genocide protesters were ejected from the event by police for unfurling a banner depicting the Palestinian flag with the phrase “Free Palestine.” As the protesters were dragged away by police, thousands in the arena erupted into cheers of “Free Palestine,” drowning out Sanders’ attempts to quell their anger.
Under conditions in which Israel is systematically exterminating, starving and ethnically cleansing the entire population of Gaza, Sanders declared at the rally that Israel “has the right to defend itself.”
This is not true. The United Nations and the International Court of Justice have repeatedly ruled that the Israeli occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, which it seized during the Six Day War of 1967, is illegal. Israel has no right of “self-defense” against a population it illegally occupies and imprisons.
As Sanders said these words, two rally attendees dropped a Palestinian flag banner over the giant American flag that was positioned behind the stage.
At the sight of the banner, the packed auditorium roared in approval, with many standing and cheering in extended applause.
An order was quickly given by Sanders’ campaign to have the banner removed. Local police ripped down the banner and detained those who unfurled it. Sanders did not tell the cops to leave the anti-genocide protesters alone, doing nothing to protect them even as the crowd continued to protest the police assault.
Amid growing boos and chants from the crowd, Sanders raised his hands and said, “Shhhhhh!” This had the opposite effect; thousands began chanting, “Free Palestine! Free Palestine! Free Palestine!” with many raising their fists in solidarity.
This episode highlights two critically important political facts. First is the role of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez. Sanders’ response to the censorship and arrest of anti-genocide protesters reveals a politician who is not in any genuine sense oppositional to the “oligarchy,” genocide or the Democratic Party.
He and Ocasio-Cortez, along with other so-called “progressive” elements, play a vital role in American politics. Their job is to corral and suffocate growing anti-capitalist and anti-war sentiment within the Democratic Party. Ocasio-Cortez declared last year that Vice President Kamala Harris was working “tirelessly” for a ceasefire in Gaza, as part of an effort to convince young voters to back the party which made the genocide possible, while Sanders claims the fight against “oligarchy” and war can be waged by voting for Democrats.
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