Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) visited Bakersfield on April 15 as part of their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour that called on working-class Americans to stand up against what Sanders described as corporate greed, government corruption, and the erosion of democracy.

Before Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez took the stage, Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers (UFW), announced that the union is suing both U.S. Border Patrol and the Trump administration over large-scale immigration raids that have targeted farm workers in California’s Central Valley.

“In Bakersfield, we witnessed one of the largest and most chaotic immigration raids in decades,” Romero said. “Hundreds of people were stopped, interrogated, and detained not for committing any crime, but because they looked like farm workers.”

Romero said that many of the people taken in the raids had never broken the law. They were members of the union and now their families and children are left behind, trying to get by without them.

At the rally in Bakersfield, both Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez spoke out against the recent ICE raids in California’s Central Valley, where undocumented immigrants were taken. 

“This administration is using fear to silence immigrant communities and suppress workers’ rights,” Sanders said. 

Ocasio-Cortez agreed, and the raids were meant to scare and divide working people, particularly among immigrants. She called for unity and said that when workers stick together, no matter their background, they can’t be stopped.

“We are watching as our neighbors, students, and friends are being fired, targeted, and disappeared. It is real,” Ocasio-Cortez said, referencing recent ICE raids in the Central Valley. 

Ocasio-Cortez also defended free speech and the rights of activists especially those speaking up for Palestine and condemned the government for going after people just for sharing their views.

“Activists are being detained with no charge or evidence for using their First Amendment rights, especially if those rights are being used to speak up for Palestinians and to end the war in Gaza,” Ocasio-Cortez mentioned. 

She said that silencing people who speak up for human rights keeps everyone from voicing concerns and paves the way for even more unfair treatment.

Senator Sanders made no mention of Palestine, and a handful of protesters were removed from the event. One woman, waving a Palestinian flag and chanting “Free Gaza,” was escorted out by security.

In his speech, Sanders also described the reality many Americans face: families struggling to make ends meet, seniors living on just $15,000 a year, and young people stuck with student debt. “This is the richest country in the world,” he said, “but 60% of people are living paycheck to paycheck.”

He compared this to the immense wealth of billionaires like Elon Musk, who he said is pushing Congress to cut social programs. “One person, Mr. Musk, has more wealth than the bottom half of American households,” Sanders said, calling this level of wealth inequality “crazy.”

The senator called out local Congressman David Valadao, urging him to attend a town hall and answer whether he supports tax cuts for billionaires and cuts to programs like Medicaid, housing, and nutrition.

“I come from the state of Vermont, and I’m here in Bakersfield. Alexandria comes from New York, and she is here in Bakersfield. Now, Mr. Congressman, you live in this district, why don’t you show up at a town meeting like this?” Sanders said. “Have the guts to show up and answer it.”

Ocasio-Cortez said that Bakersfield has the potential to be crucial in protecting Medicaid and pushing forward progressive policies. She encouraged voters to organize and work towards unseating Rep. Valadao. 

“He knows it hurts the people of Bakersfield, but he’s not there to serve them, he’s there to serve the billionaires who fund him,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

She explained that this moment is both urgent and winnable, that “to stop harmful legislation, we just need three Republican members to say no.” She added, “David Valadao is one of the key members who could still make the right decision.”

Sanders also reiterated his progressive policy agenda, including raising the minimum wage to a living wage, making public colleges tuition-free, expanding affordable housing, and enacting Medicare for All.

“Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege,” he said. “The function of healthcare is not to make billions in profits for drug and insurance companies, it’s to provide care.”

He concluded with a message: “Politics is not complicated. It comes down to one question: Which side are you on? Are you on the side of the billionaire class, or are you on the side of the working class?”

Carolina, a member of the United Farm Workers (UFW), also had the chance to speak at the rally about her journey as a farm worker leader. While she didn’t share her full name, she talked about the importance of standing up for workers’ rights and fighting for a better future.

Carolina has worked in the fields since 2002, picking grapes, berries, and pistachios to support her family. She’s a mother of seven, with her oldest daughter studying to become a teacher and her second-oldest son getting ready to join the National Guard.

In 2016, Carolina became a leader when she helped organize a three-day strike with over 600 fellow workers to win their first UFW contract. The workers fought for better pay, benefits, and respect on the job. Though many were afraid at first, Carolina’s courage and hope for a better future inspired them to join the fight.

“Don’t be afraid of the bosses, the wealthy, or the politicians. I believe that one day, this country will be a better place for working people,” said Carolina.

After years of working in the fields, Carolina raised her hands and said, “These are the hands that feed America.”