(The Center Square) — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is bringing his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” tour to Louisiana as he makes a stop in Shreveport on Sunday at the Municipal Auditorium.
Despite nationwide safety concerns for elected officials, the Vermont independent and former presidential candidate is continuing with his tour aimed at combating what he calls an oligarchy. Sanders’ visit comes just one week after hundreds of people in Shreveport engaged in a “No Kings” protest.
Shreveport City Council Chairwoman Tabitha Taylor spoke with The Center Square about her appreciation for the senator choosing Shreveport as a stop.
“I am appreciative that Senator Sanders would select the City of Shreveport as part of his tour. He has always been a beacon of hope and encouragement for working class citizens,” said Taylor, a Democrat. “Many of us are elated to join him on the stage and to listen during this critical yet attentive time in our nation.”
While Taylor noted she and others will be joining the senator on stage, Shreveport Chief Administrative Officer Tom Dark told The Center Square that he and Mayor Tom Arceneaux are not attending the political event.
Sanders is making his way to the Northwest region of Louisiana after speaking in McAllen, Texas — both predominantly blue areas.
Sanders received 17% of the democratic vote in Caddo Parish during the 2016 primary election, as Hillary Clinton received 80%. Across the river in Bossier, Sanders received 27% of the vote, 10% more than Caddo Parish. However, Clinton still took the majority with 67%.
Overall, the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour has seen a large turnout. His Folsom, Calif., rally brought in over 30,000 people, 36,000 attended the Los Angeles rally and 30,000 attended his Denver, Colo., rally.
According to Taylor, the event is going to draw many attendees from the area.
“Our citizens are eager to hear his voice because they can identify with heart and his works. I believe Senator Sanders will lead with a charge that will be uplifting and motivating while acknowledging the concerns that so many of us have,” Taylor told The Center Square.
While exact projected attendance numbers haven’t been given for the Shreveport event, as of June 1, Louisiana has more than one million registered Democrat voters, with almost 68,000 belonging to Caddo Parish.
With the current registered voter numbers, the event could draw a big crowd in the city with a population of around 176,000.
The Center Square reached out to Sanders’s team for a statement about the upcoming event but did not receive a response before publication.
