Bernie Sanders rally in downtown Portland draws big crowd

A crowd of about 1,000 people turned out in Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland Saturday to support Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.

Sanders was more than 1,700 miles away in Iowa, where he was scheduled to speak Saturday evening. But his absence didn't dampen the spirits of his supporters, who gathered under sporadic showers and cloudy skies for the rally, one of dozens taking place across the country to coincide with the Vermont senator's Iowa speech.

The event drew a diverse crowd with a creative bent. Middle-aged canvassers wandered about trying to secure the signatures of young voters for ballot initiatives. Fathers walked around with children strapped to their chests in Baby Bjorns.

More than a dozen speakers addressed the crowd – some focused on Sanders' policy stances to fight income inequality, environmental crises or social issues. A couple speakers had connections with the Vermonter that dated back decades.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/01/bernie_sanders_rally_in_downto.html

Over a thousand people filled Pioneer Courthouse Square on Saturday, January 23, 2016, attending the #March for Bernie, coordinated by grassroots volunteer group BerniePDX. The rally featured speakers from a variety of groups and was held prior to Sanders' planned live telecast. Kristyna Wentz-Graff/Staff