Bernie Sanders won’t make ‘Berniechella’ & Coachella Festival
Update: Senator Bernie Sanders will not be attending ‘Berniechella’ or the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Regional Press Secretary Vivek Kembaiyan told KESQ & CBS Local 2 Wednesday afternoon.
Kembaiyan also noted that his campaign isn’t involved with Berniechella.
According to berniesanders.com, there are no mentions of the Democratic presidential candidate visiting the Coachella Valley during a planned block party on Thursday and Friday, leading up to the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, where it was rumored Bernie Sanders would possibly make a surprise appearance.
With his loss to Hillary Clinton in the New York primary, Sanders is setting his eyes on Pennsylvania, where voters hit the polls on Tuesday. On Thursday, Sanders’ website listed three campaign events in Pennsylvania at 10 a.m., 2 p.m., and 4:30 p.m.
There were no listings for Senator Sanders’ schedule on Friday, or through the weekend — as of Wednesday afternoon.
‘BernieChella, as it’s being called, is a two-day event set for Thursday and Friday on Grapefruit Boulevard and Vine Street in Coachella, which will lead into the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival’s second weekend.
BernieChella Block Party:
California may very well get a big say in the selection of the presidential nominees with the races in both parties up in the air. It’s less than two months until the June 7 primary and that’s adding fuel to the idea that one of the candidates may be ready to show up in the Coachella Valley.
A”Bernie Sanders for President Block Party” is set for April 21 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. and April 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Coachella. The free event in front of City Hall on Sixth Street will lead into the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Indio, to shine light on the issues and bring exposure to old town Coachella.
“I was contacted by a group of artists, performers that are supporters of Bernie Sanders. They wanted to do what they can in support of Bernie Sanders and wanted to do it in Coachella,” said block party organizer Tizoc DeAztlan.
DeAztlan said the line up is already set. Performers such as Ozomatli, Shepard Fairey and Zoe Kravitz volunteered to take the main stage at the block party to support Sanders. But will the Democratic presidential candidate attend?
“Obviously California is a very important state when it comes to electoral votes. At this point, we don’t know yet. But we’ll certainly welcome him and be ready for him,” Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez said.
Sander’s opponent Hillary Clinton will campaign in Los Angeles this weekend ahead of the primary, discussing her plans to raise wages and break down barriers she says are holding Americans back.
“If the Hillary campaign wants to come through town, we’re very supportive of her coming up and pulling into Sixth Street,” Hernandez said.
More information on the Bernie Sanders for President Block Party is located on Facebook.
