People of Boston march for Bernie Sanders

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Individuals gathered in Boston Common Saturday afternoon to march in support of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, despite the bitter cold and approaching snowstorm. Signs reading “Students for Bernie” and “Bernie 2016” were held high throughout the crowd of more than 500.

The crowd met at the Common’s Parkman Bandstand and listened to two speakers before beginning their march to the Massachusetts State House.

Hilary Robinson, a member of Boston for Bernie, spoke first and paralleled Sanders’ plans for equality with the late Martin Luther King Jr.’s.

“We stand here to continue that fight for justice — for social, racial, economic and yes, environmental justice,” Robinson said. “We stand here because we believe that we can change things, because we heard Martin Luther King when he said, ‘The arch of history is long but it bends towards justice.’ Because we hear Bernie Sanders when he says that there is nothing, nothing that we cannot accomplish when we stand together.”

Elan Axelbank, a student at Northeastern University, spoke after Robinson and said Sanders’ determination to fight the wealth of the top 1 percent is critical.

“It’s becoming clearer and clearer that the [Democratic National Committee], the establishment of the Democratic Party, has been organizing movements against us, against our political revolution,” Axelbank said. “So what does that mean? That means that we have to have an organized movement against them. We’re going to keep fighting for Sanders’ radical platform across the country and against the rule of the billionaire class, and we’re going to fight for new political party of, by and for the 99 percent.”

Chants of “Bernie Sanders” and “Feel the Bern” were heard throughout the Common as the marchers made their way to the State House.

Damali Vidot, a Chelsea city councilor at-large, spoke to the crowd about how Sanders has stood for equality not just recently, but for decades.

“I’m supporting the pioneer who spoke about how black lives matter long before that movement started,” Vidot said. “I’m voting for the guy who voted against [President Bill] Clinton’s ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ because he knew, even back then, that equality is for all. Yes, I’m supporting the candidate who always and continues to shed light on the overwhelming issue of income inequality and systemic injustice, because who I am and where I come from, the struggle is all too real.”

Toya Chester, a member of Socialist Alternative, said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton can’t be trusted as she “flip flops” on political issues.

“Back in the day, she was pro-segregation,” Chester said. “She hopped on that bandwagon and said no segregation. When her husband was in office, she was tough on crime. Now, she wants to do something about mass incarceration. Just a few short years ago, Hillary Clinton said that marriage should be between a man and a woman. She doesn’t say that anymore.”

Several attendees said Sanders gives them hope that equality for all can and will be achieved.

Rosalie Belanger-Rioux, 28, of Somerville, is a member of Socialist Alternative and said she supports Sanders’ backing of the working class.

“[Socialist Alternative is] interested in helping Bernie build a movement to support his candidacy because once he gets elected and if he is going to get results, he better have a movement behind him,” she said. “We like Bernie because he talks about things that matter for the working people, for the poor, and he really cares about a real democracy.”

Jay Pielmeier, 30, of Somerville, emphasized Sanders’ continuation of King’s values.

“He’s fought alongside Martin Luther King Jr.,” he said. “There’s pictures of him like five rows behind him marching, and I just feel he knows how we feel and he cares about the United States people.”

Sarah Mohamed, 21, of Mission Hill, while carrying a box of “Students for Bernie” buttons and stickers for other attendees to take, said Sanders’ awareness that actions speak louder than words resonates with people.

“The first thing that really comes to mind is that he’s not just talking about a political revolution, he’s acting on it,” she said. “The fact that he doesn’t take corporate donations is so, so incredible. He’s true to his word, and we didn’t used to believe that was possible, but look at how much support he is getting by harnessing the power of all of us.”