LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders vowed that he would fight harder than any other presidential candidate to end institutional racism in front of a packed Los Angeles arena, two days after Black Lives Matter protesters derailed one of his rallies.
The wildly enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive campaign stop on Monday night avoided the Vermont senator's previous problems in Seattle.
"There is no president that will fight harder to end institutional racism," said Sanders, who was answered with a deafening roar and chants of "Bernie" from a packed Los Angeles Sports Arena, whose usual capacity is about 16,000 people.
The rally began taking on the issue head-on as Symone Sanders — Bernie Sanders' new national press secretary who is not related to the candidate — opened the program and talked at length about racial injustice.
Symone Sanders is a black criminal justice advocate and a strong supporter of Black Lives Matter movement, and said Sanders was the candidate to fight for its values.
The wildly enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive campaign stop on Monday night avoided the Vermont senator's previous problems in Seattle.
"There is no president that will fight harder to end institutional racism," said Sanders, who was answered with a deafening roar and chants of "Bernie" from a packed Los Angeles Sports Arena, whose usual capacity is about 16,000 people.
The rally began taking on the issue head-on as Symone Sanders — Bernie Sanders' new national press secretary who is not related to the candidate — opened the program and talked at length about racial injustice.
Symone Sanders is a black criminal justice advocate and a strong supporter of Black Lives Matter movement, and said Sanders was the candidate to fight for its values.