Scenes from the huge Bernie Sanders rally in Prospect Park

Thanks to a perfect storm convergence of a 15k race, nice weather, Smorgasburg and a huge Bernie Sanders rally, Prospect Park was a sight to behold yesterday. The Sanders rally drew an estimated 28,000 people, according to amNY, the campaign’s largest rally yet. It’s no surprise Bernie fandom is high in certain parts of Brooklyn, his hometown, and he hammered home his trendy appeal by bringing Grizzly Bear as his opening act and appearing with fellow hip old guy Danny DeVito (who introduced Bernie as “our Obi-Wan”) and human MacBook Justin Long. It was a colorful event, full of lots of artsy expressions of #feelingthebern. Sanders himself addressed healthcare, the environment and the wage gap. Here’s what the scene looked like:

The crowd

OH at Prospect Park: "oh my god. Smorgasburg and Bernie. Agh-mazing." pic.twitter.com/tNAnjbmtTH

— Lauren Gambino (@laurenegambino) April 17, 2016

#bernie2016 #brooklyn

A photo posted by Lionel Müller (@lionel.p.muller) on Apr 17, 2016 at 7:52pm PDT

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ A photo posted by ALISON MARIE ISBELL (@alisonmarieisbell) on Apr 17, 2016 at 6:00pm PDT

The line 4 the Bernie rally at Prospect Park is SICKER than the line last Thursday in Manhattan! pic.twitter.com/wo1mkm30Fx

— Organized Chaos (@orgchaosmedia) April 17, 2016

“There is more power in a good strong hug than in a thousand meaningful words.” #feelthebern #prospectpark #brooklyn #berniesanders #nyc #rally #believe #bernie #newyorkcity #brooklynforbernie #newyork #bernie2016 #democrat #berniesanders2016 #freehugs

A photo posted by Raquel Castro (@nice_raq) on Apr 17, 2016 at 3:45pm PDT

HappySUNday ☀️ #BrooklynforBernie #smorgasburg A photo posted by Ṕ∃ℕℕ¥. Ḻ∀ℕ∃. (@djpenny_lane) on Apr 17, 2016 at 1:41pm PDT

Brooklyn in the park. #feelthebern @a.stranjj.past ・・・ #berniegangstas #brooklynforbernie #brooklynisberning #fuckitiguessimademocraticsocialist #nyforbernie #bernie2016 #prospectpark #rally #feelthebern #votebernie #futuretobelievein #politicalrevolution A photo posted by #feelthebern (@millennialsforbernie) on Apr 17, 2016 at 1:43pm PDT

Rallying – #feeltheBern #BernieSanders #Bernieforpresident #Brooklyn A photo posted by @ugretchen on Apr 17, 2016 at 11:05pm PDT

All ready for @berniesanders with our #momsforbernie and #daughtersforbernie homemade gear and signs! A photo posted by jomceniry (@jomceniry) on Apr 17, 2016 at 9:11pm PDT

Danny DeVito and Justin Long

@justinlong You gave an incredible speech at the Bernie Sanders rally today in Prospect Park! pic.twitter.com/n1pK1K6Oi7

— Joy Marie 🤦 (@JoyMarie007) April 18, 2016

Hanging in #Brooklyn at #ProspectPark w/ @JustinLong @DannyDevito, @ChristianLong pre- #feelthebern rally today pic.twitter.com/VZcYe463Lc

— Tulsi Gabbard (@TulsiGabbard) April 18, 2016

Grizzly Bear

Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear 🐻 A photo posted by Ellen Qbertplaya (@qbertplaya) on Apr 17, 2016 at 5:25pm PDT

watch @grizzlybear and EPMD play the Bernie Sanders rally in Prospect Park https://t.co/Of2pG4LvOG pic.twitter.com/95UB5faVbR

— BrooklynVegan (@brooklynvegan) April 17, 2016

Bernie himself

Squaded up deep behind Bernie today ! #NBCNEWS #Brooklyn #ProspectPark A photo posted by Bekim Trenova (@bekimtrenova) on Apr 17, 2016 at 7:35pm PDT

Presidential candidate #berniesanders speaking today in Prospect Park in #brooklyn in front of over 28000 supporters. The #newyork #primaryelection is on Tuesday. #onassignment for @vgnett @vgfoto @vg_i_new_york A photo posted by Thomas Nilsson (@nilssontnyc) on Apr 17, 2016 at 9:08pm PDT

Addressing the wage gap

Bernie rally at Prospect was so live,I just got service now (Also cause T-Mobile is terrible) #BernieinProspectPark pic.twitter.com/DUZn4qJvSV

— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) April 17, 2016

Talking about marijuana laws

FEELING THE BERN @berniesanders #berniesanders #nyc #bernie A video posted by Erica Severson (@ericasev) on Apr 17, 2016 at 6:46pm PDT

Some more observations from our man on the ground, Daniel Benny, a 25-year-old LA-based account strategist at Google and a Bernie supporter who flew in just to canvass in the leadup to the NYC primaries:

The spread of the rally crowd:

You could feel the energy emanating of this rally miles before the park, walking up to the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Transit Station, a fierce organizing of laid off Verizon workers were making their voices heard. I stopped to cheer them on and a woman gave me a strong “Go Bernie!” as I traded a Bernie flyer for her Union’s literature.

Hug the Bern:

Some guys with Free hugs sign convinced us to take part and “Give five hugs and pass it on”. We obliged.

Talk of the Nation:

A couple women who write for “The Nation” the first major publication to endorse Bernie stood next to me. Asked them if the choice to endorse Bernie was a tough one in the office and they gave me a resounding “Nope!”

Boos for a 7-year-old:

The speakers after the music included political commentator Sally Kohn who told us her 7-year-old daughter was a Hillary supporter because she wanted a woman president, but warned the crowd not to dare boo her (which some unfortunately could not help themselves too). She spoke about how she had not endorsed either candidate until that moment when she took the stage. She talked about how she thinks Hillary would do a great job on 90 percent of the issues she cares about, but the 10 percent left was the most important (Amending Citizens United, Energy reform, etc.).

A local endorsement:

City Councilman Jumaane Williams (who represents East Flatbush, Flatbush, Flatlands and Midwood) took the stage and endorsed Bernie: “Some say Bernie Sanders and his supports is at war reality…..you’re goddamn right.”

Whichever candidate you support, don’t forget to vote tomorrow!