Thread by @joesonka

Bernie Sanders visiting Louisville today to strike with AT&T workers and host rally outside Ali Center: courier-journal.com/story/news/pol… via @courierjournal

.@ladd_sarah is with the striking workers now, I’ll be there when Bernie arrives and when he gives speech at 4pm event.

https://twitter.com/ladd_sarah/status/1165644705700429824?s=21

Around 100 CWA workers and allies in downtown Louisville striking against AT&T. Bernie Sanders set to arrive in 15 minutes to talk to them.

Looks like Sanders will hop on the back of this pickup and grab a bullhorn to address the striking workers.

20,000 AT&T workers in the southeast started an unfair labor practices strike yesterday, including 2.5k in Kentucky and 1k in Louisville.

Sanders campaign has pledged to increase union jobs in America by 20m

Here’s Bernie

Sanders ripping AT&T for promising jobs because of the federal tax cut but instead slashing jobs and benefits.

Sanders ends his speech to “Bernie! Bernie!” chants, now headed to campaign rally for later today at Ali Center.

Sanders merch being sold outside, people already lined up to come in. People allowed in at 2:30, event to start at 4 at Ali Center.

The Bernie Sanders rally in Louisville is set to begin in one hour. A couple hundred here already.

Here’s the message that @KYGOP had on Friday after the announcement that Bernie Sanders would rally in Louisville today, attempting to tie in Democrats Andy Beshear and Greg Stumbo, the #kygov and AG candidates on ballot in November.

That fossil fuels reference relates to the "Green New Deal" that Bernie Sanders released on Thursday, a $16.3 trillion plan to end fossil fuel use by 2050, create 20 million new jobs to solve climate crisis: berniesanders.com/issues/the-gre…

Sanders' plan would be funded by new taxes & fees on fossil fuels industry. What about displaced coal workers? They're guaranteed 5 years current salary, housing assistance, job training, health care, pension support, and priority job placement.

The Bernie Sanders event kicks off with a speech by Louisville union organizer Richard Becker.

The first mentions of Gov. Matt Bevin and Sens. Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul gets a big boo from the crowd. Becker mentions Sanders standing with the striking AT&T workers a few blocks from here earlier today, which gets a big cheer.

Next speaker touts the Green New Deal, which gets a cheer from the crowd. Says Sanders is the only Democratic presidential candidate with a plan that is strong enough to address climate change.

Call and response with crowd now:

"What do want? Green New Deal! When do we want it? Now!"

Crowd may be approaching 1,000 now.

.@RepJohnYarmuth takes the stage.

@RepJohnYarmuth Yarmuth: We're not here today to talk about Trump's "brain fart presidency," we're here to talk about Mitch McConnell blocking a minimum wage increase, increased gun background checks and election security bills.

Yarmuth: "Bernie and I have a lot in common -- other than being old Jewish guys."

Yarmuth not mentioning his longstanding criticism on Sanders' Medicare for All bill. (Obviously not in this venue)

And heeeeere's Bernie.

Bevin's campaign manager just put out a statement about "Beshear’s allegiance to Bernie Sanders and the radical Left." (Andy Beshear is not here and has not made any supportive statements about Bernie Sanders)

Sanders: It is not the billionaire class that needs help, it is the working class. Says McConnell is beholden to the billionaire class and their campaign contributions.

Sanders: 10 of the 25 poorest counties in America are in Kentucky, tells McConnell to stop turning his back on them and listen. Tells him to stop blocking minimum wage increase.

Sanders tells McConnell if he wants to vote against raising min wage, background checks and election security and defend that back home, fine, but stop blocking a vote and "have the guts to debate the issues."

Sanders keep beating on the same theme, moving to gun safety legislation expanding and strengthening background checks, calling for McConnell to allow a vote in the Senate on what was passed in the House. "Don't allow the NRA to dictate gun policy in this country... let us vote."

Sanders moving on to election security, says McConnell is blocking a Senate vote on House-passed bills on paper voting records.

Sanders moving on to climate change, says we have a moral responsibility to now allow this to continue.

Sanders says coal miners in Kentucky are not his enemy, climate change is his enemy.

Sanders says coal miners have seen their pensions attacked by CEOs who only care about short-term profits. Says McConnell and Trump have abandoned these communities, but he will help rebuild rural America and create millions of good-paying jobs. Stands with #Blackjewel miners.

Sanders: Climate change is real and we only have a short period of time to transition away from fossils fuels. In doing so, we will rebuild those communities that kept our power going in those industries.

Sanders says if you want to understand McConnell's actions, "follow the money."

Sanders listing the corporate interests that give McConnell millions in campaign contributions and their opposition to legislation that he listed earlier, and their support for tax cuts for wealthy and deregulating Wall Street.

Bernie wraps up his speech. Lasted just over 40 minutes. Crowd chants "Bernie! Bernie!" one more time.

Fans of Oldham County metal band @knockedloose are pretty psyched that their billboard had such good placement in my @BernieSanders video from the AT&T strike.

(Apologies if I did not identify the proper genre here)

(It’s hardcore punk, sorry!)