Sen. Bernie Sanders' San Pedro waterfront rally expected to draw thousands

Thousands of union workers will rally Friday on the San Pedro waterfront during a campaign swing by Sen. Beie Sanders as he continues to bastorm the state for presidential primary votes.

The outdoor event, sponsored by Harbor Area labor unions, will be held at the Downtown Harbor dock area just north of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, 84 E. Sixth St., at Harbor Boulevard.

Admission is first-come, first serve. Doors open at 8 a.m. and there will be security checks before entering the area.

Retired San Pedro attoey Diane Middleton — who staffs Sanders’ downtown San Pedro campaign office at 443 W. Sixth St. — said she anticipates as many as 5,000 people to attend.

The Harbor Area response to Sanders, she said, has been “absolutely amazing.”

“There are big crowds wherever he goes,” she said. “There’s finally a candidate speaking to the real needs of working people.”

Among the sponsors are the Inteational Longshore and Warehouse Union Inteational and the ILWU Pensioners, both of which have formally endorsed Sanders, said Middleton who is secretary-treasurer of the Harry Bridges Institute, which also has endorsed him.

Those wanting to attend should arrive no later than 9 a.m. Other speakers also will be featured at the moing rally. Those attending are asked not to bring bags and to limit what they carry to keys, cellphones and other small personal items only.

Weapons, sharp objects, chairs and signs or baers on sticks will not be allowed through the security checkpoint.

The Los Angeles Maritime Museum will be closed for security purposes.

Free parking is available at Ports O’ Call Village south of the museum and $2 parking (cash or credit) is available at the Battleship Iowa parking lot to the north of the museum at Harbor Boulevard and First Street.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton still leads in polling for Califoia’s June 7 Democratic presidential primary, but Middleton said she believes Sanders will prevail.

A May 17 Sanders’ rally at Carson’s StubHub Center drew more than 8,000 people, many of whom stood in line for hours.

“I went to the Exposition Park rally and waited in line for four hours,” Middleton said of Sanders’ almost rock-star appeal, especially to young people. “There were 27,000 people with 5,000 people outside. His message is really resonating and in this area, it’s particularly resonating with union members.”

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