Just about 100,000 people are expected to attend the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival starting tomorrow, and a crowd of that size could wield some real political power. That's why Bernie Sanders supporters have created a small festival of their own in support of the presidential candidate. Also in Indio, Berniechella promises to be a raucous celebration of democratic socialist values and the need for campaign finance reform—complete with food trucks, beer gardens, and art displays.
The event is officially called the Bernie Sanders for President Block Party and is running tonight between 5 pm and midnight, as well as tomorrow morning from 9 am to 2 pm. As reported by My News LA, the event will include performances and art pieces by prominent Sanders supporters like Shepard Fairey, Zoe Kravitz, Ozmatli, and Alex Ebert. The block party was organized by political consultant Tizoc DeAztlan, who hopes to draw crowds of between 1,500 and 3,000, according to the Desert Sun.
Unfortunately for all those feeling the Bern in the hot Coachella Valley sun, Sanders himself will not be able to attend the festival as he has already committed to attending campaign events in Pennsylvania today and tomorrow. The Vermont senator did make an appearance in Indio last weekend, in the form of a video introduction for hip-hop supergroup Run the Jewels.
- Forget Coachella; ready for ‘Berniechella’? [My News LA]
- Coachella to honor Bernie Sanders with 'Berniechella' [Desert Sun]
- Here's Bernie Sanders Trying to Squeeze Down Hollywood Boulevard [Curbed LA]
- Coachella Promoters Planning Old People Coachella [Curbed LA]