Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders will be about a dozen miles away from New Jersey when he visits Bethlehem this Saturday, May 3, as part of his nationwide “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, aimed at fostering dialogue on curbing corporate power and economic inequality in American politics.
Sanders says Democrats are paying a political price for not paying attention to the working class.
“I think support for this right-wing agenda, which is not only about authoritarianism and oligarchy, it is about a proposal which will give over, if passed, over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the top 1% and allow for massive cuts to Medicaid, nutrition, housing and other programs,” Sanders said.
“If you poll that, I would guess that 80-90% of the American people think that that is totally insane,” Sanders said. “So, I think in fact in many ways the Trump administration is now on the defensive with their tariff policies, which are going to raise prices. Now what we need are candidates and a political movement which stands clearly with the working class of this country.”
The event, hosted at Lehigh University’s Stabler Athletic & Convocation Center, will feature a keynote address by Sanders alongside remarks from U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA), a first-term congressman and Navy veteran representing Pennsylvania’s 17th District.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m., with a musical performance by the Philadelphia-based punk band The Menzingers scheduled for noon.
Sanders’ speaking program will commence at 1:00 p.m., during which he is expected to outline his critique of concentrated wealth and corporate influence in policymaking, touching on issues such as healthcare, labor rights, and cultural divides.
The tour, framed as a grassroots effort to mobilize public support, emphasizes low-cost accessibility, though organizers note that travel and event logistics require modest funding.
Deluzio, elected in 2022, will join Sanders in discussing legislative strategies to counter what both lawmakers describe as systemic imbalances favoring corporate interests.
Deluzio, a former naval officer and cybersecurity policy advocate, represents a swing district encompassing Pittsburgh’s northwestern suburbs, a region pivotal to Pennsylvania’s political landscape.
Attendees are advised that free parking is available on-site, though strict entry protocols will be enforced. Prohibited items include flags, weapons, hard-sided water bottles, personal chairs, and bags larger than a fanny pack, with exceptions for medical necessities. ADA-compliant seating will be provided.
Now in his fourth Senate term, Sanders has long positioned himself as a vocal advocate for working-class Americans, a theme dating to his tenure as Burlington, Vermont’s mayor in the 1980s.
During his eight years leading the city, he prioritized affordable housing, environmental protections, and progressive tax reforms. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1990 and the Senate in 2006.
Sanders gained national prominence during his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, centering his platform on universal healthcare, tuition-free college, and raising the minimum wage.
Known for his legislative pragmatism, Sanders has collaborated across party lines, notably chairing the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and brokering bipartisan reforms to veterans’ healthcare access.
His current role as ranking member on the Budget Committee reinforces his focus on fiscal policy and income disparity.
Saturday’s event marks Sanders’ latest effort to sustain public engagement beyond election cycles, underscoring his call for sustained activism to counter, in his words, “the existential threat posed by oligarchic control.”
The Bethlehem stop follows similar gatherings in swing states, reflecting Sanders’ continued influence in shaping progressive discourse ahead of the 2024 electoral season.
Sanders, 82, resides in Burlington with his wife, Jane. He has four children and seven grandchildren.