National Nurses United

4 N A T I O N A L N U R S E W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G J U LY | A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 NATIONAL C iting sanders' strong track record on supporting Medicare for all, fighting income inequality, working to end systemic racism, and "the same issues that animate nurses," National Nurses United on Aug. 10 announced it was endorsing Sen. Bernie Sanders for the 2016 presidential race. NNU's endorsement is among the first by unions for Sanders, whose campaign is rapidly snowballing and drawing massive crowds of tens of thousands of voters across the country whenever he appears. "What Bernie Sanders' campaign repre- sents is an opportunity to not just speak truth to power, but to join movements together to change our country," said NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro to more than 200 cheering, ebullient nurses who had gathered at NNU's offices in Oakland, Calif. for a national conversation with Sanders that was also broadcast live to thousands of additional RNs in cities from Des Moines and Chicago, to Kansas City and Orlando. A sea of red-clad RNs chanted, "Bernie! Bernie!" as Sanders, ever a man of the people, accepted the endorsement by turn- ing the focus back on the crowd and thank- ing the hard work of nurses. "I am humbled and appreciative for your support," said Sanders. "You are the backbone of our healthcare system." Pointing out RNs often do not have adequate support and resources due to healthcare corporations putting profits over patients, Sanders declared, "We have to change the healthcare system in America. And we have to change boldly and fundamen- tally the priorities of this nation so that not all our income is going to the top 1 percent." After his speech, Sanders fielded ques- tions from RNs across the country, fostering a meaningful exchange often punctuated by cheers. Callers asked about the VA system (Sanders supports efforts for VA nurses to organize and would fight back against underfunding and efforts to privatize), safe staffing (Sanders is cosponsoring federal ratio bill S. 864), access to healthcare (he supports Medicare for all), and other issues that are critical to nurses. "Our vision is that when people get sick, they should be able to get healthcare, regardless of income, because it is a right," Sanders emphasized. He also fielded ques- tions from press, including his plans for addressing systemic racism, an issue also important to NNU. "I think the goals of Black Lives Matter are exactly right," Sanders said, explaining that his campaign would be fighting for real criminal justice reform and to end the "vestige of institutionalized racism in the country." He aims to work toward a vision of economic equality that fully enfolds black lives into a world of increased jobs and expanded access to education. Sanders closed by explaining, "The billionaire class is so powerful that no presi- dent can take them on alone. The way you push forward a progressive agenda is when millions of people stand up." —Kari Jones Sanders' campaign gains more momentum as NNU endorses him for president NEWS BRIEFS

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