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Joshua Scheer
Here is Bernie Sanders discussing cutting off arms to Israel.
“In the last year, I must confess, I’ve been thinking a lot about American history—about the men and women in 1776 who, with unbelievable courage, announced to the world that they would no longer be ruled by the king of England.”
That familiar patriotic framing always leaves out who many of those men actually were: slave-owning elites, some of whom built wealth through exploitation, violence, and a social order dependent on forced labor. The mythology of freedom in 1776 often coexisted with the denial of freedom to countless others.
While Sanders speaks about forcing votes on arms sales, the larger reality remains that billions continue flowing to the United States Department of Defense with little serious resistance, while military budgets pass year after year with overwhelming support.
Yesterday, I was with smaller groups and direct activists doing the real work on the ground—people organizing in communities, showing up, resisting, and protecting what matters in practical ways.
I’m sharing this speech because it was sent to me and I was asked to post it, but my own suggestion is this: find the groups already doing work where you live—whether that means protecting the environment, defending renters’ rights, supporting labor struggles, or standing against war and displacement.
Real change usually begins locally, with people who are already committed long before cameras arrive.
And perhaps most of all, that leaders everywhere—not only in this country but across the world—stop and hopefully disappear before they make us all disappear. I prey for it everyday.
But if you want to listen, here is Bernie Sanders.
Senator Bernie Sanders:
There are a lot of people here. Thank you, Minnesota.
Let me thank Indivisible, MoveOn, 50501, and all of the organizations that made this great event possible. And thanks to the millions of Americans—from our smallest towns to our largest cities, in every state in this country—who are gathering today at thousands of rallies.
It is absolutely appropriate that we hold a major “No Kings” rally right here in the St. Paul–Minneapolis area.
When historians write about this dangerous moment in American history—when they write about courage and sacrifice—the people of Minnesota will deserve a special chapter for themselves.
In the face of unprecedented occupation of this city by ICE, Trump’s domestic army, this community stood up and, with extraordinary solidarity, fought back and won.
Minnesota showed the American people—and in fact the world—what democracy is about, what grassroots activism is about, and what standing up for the American ideals of freedom and justice is about.
Today we remember and honor two brave Americans, Renee Good and Alex Prey, who lost their lives in the struggle. And we promise their families and friends that these two heroes will not have died in vain. Their sacrifice has inspired—and will continue to inspire—the American people in the never-ending struggle for justice.
As all of you know, we are living in an unprecedented and dangerous moment in American history. In many ways, the future of our country—and in fact the future of the world—is hanging in the balance.
The choices we face are clear.
In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, at a time of massive breakthroughs in technology, we now have the opportunity to create a nation in which all people can enjoy a dignified standard of living, where we wipe out bigotry and hatred, and where all of us can live in peace and participate in a vibrant democracy.
Where the foundation of our nation is built on love, compassion, human solidarity, and understanding.
As your great former senator, the late Paul Wellstone said: “We all do better when we all do better.”
That is one vision for the future—a vision that, in my view, the vast majority of the American people share.
But there is another vision out there as well—a darker vision.
It is a vision which says that we must give up on democracy, that we are too stupid and inept to govern ourselves, and that we must put more and more power into the hands of one man.
It is a vision that says we should accept an economy in which a handful of oligarchs have unbelievable wealth while the vast majority of people struggle to put food on the table.
It is a vision that says the only thing that matters in life is the accumulation of money and power—and that it is okay if we lie, cheat, and steal to achieve those goals.
It is a vision which says that we must hate each other because of where we were born, because of a different language someone speaks, because of differences in the color of our skin, our religion, or our sexual orientation.
It is a vision that foments hatred, division, and fear.
It is an Orwellian vision which says that we must always have an enemy and always be at war.
It is a vision which says we have unlimited money for bombs and guns and killing—but never enough money to feed our children, provide affordable housing, or enable our parents to retire with dignity.
Today, here in Minnesota, in Vermont, and in every state in this country, we say loudly and proudly that as Americans:
We will never forsake our heritage.
We will never accept authoritarianism.
We will never accept oligarchy.
And we will never accept a president who is a pathological liar, a kleptocrat, and a narcissist who is undermining the Constitution of the United States and the rule of law every day.
We will never accept government policy that gives massive tax breaks to billionaires, throws millions off health care, breaks unions, denies women the right to control their own bodies, and pushes the planet closer and closer to climate catastrophe.
In the last year, I must confess, I’ve been thinking a lot about American history—about the men and women in 1776 who, with unbelievable courage, announced to the world that they would no longer be ruled by the king of England.
These patriots demanded freedom, fought a bloody revolutionary war against the most powerful military in the world, and they won.
After their military victory, they established the first democratic form of government in modern history.
And they said loudly and boldly to the world:
Here in this new nation of America—we don’t want kings.
And today, in 2026, our message is exactly the same:
No more kings.
We will not allow this country to descend into authoritarianism or oligarchy. We the people will rule.
But let us be clear: this moment is not just about one man’s greed, one man’s corruption, or one man’s contempt for the Constitution.
This is about a handful of the wealthiest people on earth who, in their insatiable greed, have taken over our economy, our political system, and our media in order to enrich themselves at the expense of working families.
Never before in American history have so few had so much wealth and power.
Never before has the top 1% owned more wealth than the bottom 93%.
While billionaires grow richer, 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck—struggling to put food on the table, pay rent, pay for child care, education, and retirement.
So today we not only say no to Trump’s authoritarianism—
We say no to Elon Musk, no to Jeff Bezos, no to Mark Zuckerberg, no to Larry Ellison, and all the other multibillionaires.
You cannot have it all. We will create an economy that works for all Americans, not just the 1%.
Now, as the news of today reminds us, we also have got to stop the out-of-control militarism of the Trump administration.
The American people were lied to about the war in Vietnam.
We were lied to about the war in Iraq.
And we are being lied to today about the war in Iran.
This war must end immediately.
Trump campaigned as a peace candidate. He promised no more forever wars.
He lied.
One month ago, Trump and his partner, Benjamin Netanyahu, started a war with Iran.
This war is unconstitutional. Trump did not seek or receive authorization from Congress.
This war is a violation of international law.
One sovereign nation cannot simply attack another sovereign nation for any reason it chooses.
We must make sure Congress does not send another $200 billion to fight this war.
And I will force a vote in the Senate on legislation to block nearly a billion dollars in weapons sales to the Israeli military.
A government that has committed genocide in Gaza does not need more military support from American taxpayers.
Yes—we can create a vibrant democracy by ending Citizens United v. FEC and not allowing billionaires to buy elections.
Yes—we can create an economy that works for every man, woman, and child.
Yes—we can guarantee health care as a human right.
Yes—we can wipe out homelessness.
Yes—we can provide tuition-free education.
Yes—we can expand Social Security.
Yes—we can raise the minimum wage.
Yes—we can guarantee every worker the right to join a union.
And yes—we can make the top 1% pay their fair share of taxes.
The establishment—including the corporate media and many of my colleagues in Congress—want you to believe you are powerless.
That is a lie.
Throughout American history, when people stood up and fought for justice, they prevailed.
The founders did it.
The abolitionists did it.
Workers did it.
Women did it.
The LGBTQ community did it.
Time and time again, our people stood up, fought back, and won.
They did it then. We can—and will—do it now.
Today, millions of Americans are in the streets demanding freedom, democracy, and justice.
But today must not be the end of our struggle.
It is the beginning.
Together, when we stand united, we can and will create the kind of nation that we know America can become.
Thank you all very much.
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