In a crowded Bushwick bar on a brisk March evening stood a group of 20-somethings handing out voter registration forms. They all kept echoing the same word—revolution.
This group, which was formed less than a year ago, is known throughout Brooklyn as the “Bushwick Berners,” a team of Bernie Sanders supporters and advocates, composed of over 900 members.
Berners believe in what they are calling Sanders’ “political revolution,” or a call to action for citizens of the United States to become active in campaigning for the rights which they deserve, specifically on a political level.
In addition to helping people register to vote, the Berners also educate the public as to why they feel Sanders should get their votes. According to Magenna Brink, ballot access director of the group, many of Sanders’ policies appeal to not only those living in Bushwick, but anyone living in the United States.
“Real universal healthcare and expanded social security benefits are important both for the young people in Bushwick and for the thousands living on fixed income,” commented Brink, adding, “Campaign finance and electoral reform are equally important at local and national levels. We need to take the money out of politics to ensure that our local elected officials will enact proposals beneficial to all their Bushwick constituents.”
In order to spread their message, the Berners host phone banks nearly four times every week, in order to convince more people to vote for Sanders. They also host debate watch parties during any Democratic debates, and travel around the city both advocating for Sanders and getting people more involved in the election by encouraging them to register to vote, and providing the materials and information making it possible for them to do so. Brink stated that the group’s main focus is new voter registration through civic engagement, a vital part of the Sanders campaign’s ultimate goal of victory in the Democratic primaries.
With the New York primary less than one month away and the New York Democratic Presidential Primary Poll predicting Sanders taking less than 30 percent of the votes, the Berners would have to convince many more New Yorkers to vote for the candidate in order for him to win the New York nomination.
However, whether or not Sanders is nominated to become president in July at the Democratic National Convention, the Bushwick Berners will remain an active group carrying on Sanders’ message of political revolution throughout Brooklyn.
“We’re fighting this revolution at community board meetings, city council meetings, state assembly meetings, state senate meetings, marches, demonstrations and any other avenue we have for effecting change. Our group will continue to grow in membership, outreach and purpose. We will collaborate with and complement the many people who advocate for our community and look to them for leadership,” said Brenner.
She then added, “We’re in it to win it. We are seizing the unique opportunity that the Sanders campaign has given us to organize young people effectively in our community. No matter the result in November, we are going to advocate for social justice, affordable housing, electoral and campaign finance reform, fair pay, and any issue that affects Bushwick.”
