In the best and most extended attack on Republican Presidential front-runner Donald Trump by a fellow candidate, Marco Rubio leveled a high octane screed against his rival during a campaign event today in Texas.
For more than 10 minutes, Rubio bashed Trump on everything from his shaky business record to the millions he inherited from his father.
For much of the speech, Rubio was speaking off the cuff and even pulled out his phone to reference Tweets that Trump had sent out.
WATCH: The Epic Rubio Takedown Of Trump.
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Here’s Why Young Hispanics Are The Key To Bernie Sanders’ Campaign In Florida
By Matthew Alvarez
MIAMI, FL- You wouldn’t know at first glance walking throughout Miami Dade College’s Kendall campus that the next potential leaders of the free world were about to arrive.
Other than a seemingly higher presence of police officers and little bit more traffic, the clues were subtle.
Students casually walked to and from their classes, people studied around tables and benches, nothing truly unusual.
It wasn’t until you headed out to the front of the campus – literally all the way into the sidewalk off of 104th St that you were able get a taste of the energy surrounding tonight’s significance.
Florida has been a notorious swing state over the last couple of presidential elections. This has to do with the fact that South Florida (Liberal) has a completely different political culture than North Florida (Conservative) and Central (Moderate).
For Democrats, one of the most important differences in South Florida is the large population of young voters that have an ethic connection to one of the dozens of different Latin and Hispanic ethnicities, something that both Democratic candidates want to capitalize off of.
Photo Credit: Matthew Alvarez/ RISE NEWS
So far, it looks like Hillary is winning that fight.
In a Washington Post poll released on March 9th, Hillary Clinton led Bernie Sanders 68% to 21% among Hispanic Democrats in the Sunshine State. Among all Democratic voters in the state, she leads 64% to 24%.
With all this being said, it’s no coincidence that one of the hottest issues from the Miami debate was immigration policy.
Over half the population of the city of Miami are immigrants or are the literal children of immigrants.
The stakes are high as Sanders and Clinton play tug of war with Florida’s diverse electorate ahead of the March 15th primary election.
For such a large scale event at a college campus, the turnout wasn’t as huge as you would expect, but the lack of participants was made up for in passion.
The size of the rally fluctuated from a few hundred people to a few dozen by the time the debate started at 9:00 PM; at its peak the crowd spanned about two blocks.
Photo Credit: Matthew Alvarez/ RISE NEWS
There wasn’t a single person not chanting, or yelling in many cases, for their respective candidates.
A small group of Clinton supporters had left the area earlier in the evening, leaving it as an nearly exclusive unofficial Sanders rally.
As heavy rush hour traffic slowly drove on by, protesters urged drivers to honk in support, creating a symphony of loud cheers and car horns that could be heard from the other side of the campus.
Spirits were high across the entire crowd.
Jamie Friend, being a mid-aged activist, felt optimistic about the rejuvenating spirit that Sanders has brought to the electorate.
Friend transformed recycled Styrofoam into light up boxes that spelled out “Bernie”, activated by the flashlight of your phone, and let anyone who wanted to borrow them.
Photo Credit: Matthew Alvarez/ RISE NEWS
She plans on driving up to Tampa to continue lending out her light up boxes at the next Sanders rally.
Patrick Mesa came out with his own sign and high hopes, having complete confidence in Sander’s chances after his Michigan win.
“Truthfully speaking, I will not vote,” Mesa said, highlighting a fear of the Sanders campaign.
With the exception of about three Trump protesters (which I couldn’t tell if they were serious or just trying to pull a laugh out of the rally), there was an overwhelming grassroots support for Sanders outside of the debate venue.
People also took the opportunity of the mass exposure to express their own concerns and views, with marijuana legalization and anti-big-money sentiment being the major topics from the gathered activists.
Florida will become a deciding factor for the longevity of Sanders’ candidacy, and for the strength of Clinton’s campaign.
No matter who you support, you should get involved in the campaign. Create a sign, attend a rally, hold a fundraiser, annoy anyone that follows you on social media with political propaganda (actually try not to do that last one), maybe you’ll find a new appreciation for the political state of our country and its future.
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us!
Cover Photo Credit: Matthew Alvarez/ RISE NEWS
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What Does It Mean To Be A Black Woman? A Poem.
I am often judged before a crowd
my clothes make me a target
mama says I have to be careful
my color makes me a target
because I am black
I cannot walk the streets alone at night
because I am black and am woman
they tell me to show emotion but
not too much because I am a black woman
they say the most powerful thing I have
is between my legs because I am woman
I, they tell me, am usually
from a broken home because I’m black
I’ll never be as good as my male
counterparts because I am woman
I am often judged before a crowd
my body is a public temple repairable
by man I am to be seen like decoration
because I am woman
I am the unwanted immigrant
my contributions mean nothing
because I am black
I have to aspire to perfection.
I have to realize rarely I am
good enough because I am woman
I am the style that everyone has
everyone wants the benefits without
having to be me- cultural appropriation
they tell me, is not real
I am the minority that produces the majority
I am the flower that suffers in the winter
gallantly swaying in the wind. my history is not told
in truth I am the minority they wish was quiet I am
the roll of thunder at the crack of injustice
I am Sybrina Fulton
I stand in the puddle of my son’s blood
gazing at an unreal sight
I am the double minority, the unappreciated.
I am the black woman.
More Poems:
“Peace”: You Have To Read This Powerful Poem About Police Violence
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in the world. You can write for us.
Cover Photo Credit: Boston Public Library/ Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
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Trump Is Going To Get Someone Killed At His Rallies
UPDATED: 8:35 PM EST
The shocking violence that broke out at a Donald Trump rally in Chicago, IL is actually not shocking at all.
It is the by-product of 7 years of race baiting by the far right of the Republican Party and the conservative movement.
It is also the by-product of one of the most racist political campaigns over the last 50 years.
Not since the campaign of 1972 have we seen so much hate and vitriol spewed by one leading candidate for this nation’s presidency.
He’s attacked Mexicans.
He’s attacked women.
He’s attacked the disabled.
He’s attacked Muslims.
He’s attacked blacks.
He’s attacked the press.
And he’s going to get somebody killed.
Donald Trump’s racist, ugly campaign will get people killed and he will be responsible.
We as a country have to stop playing around with this guy.
He’s a threat to our democracy and to our way of life.
We are a nation that has rallied against the forces of racism and has still not defeated them.
Racism has been the greatest scourge of our Republic since the very beginning and yet we still have leading political figures who are trying to further their careers by dragging us into the fire.
It is disgraceful and it is dangerous. It is also deadly.
“Mr. Trump just arrived in Chicago and after meeting with law enforcement has determined that for the safety of all of the tens of thousands of people that have gathered in and around the arena, tonight’s rally will be postponed to another date,” the Trump campaign said in a statement. “Thank you very much for your attendance and please go in peace.”
Our country can’t go in peace.
We have to go to war and fight against Donald Trump and his neo-facist agenda.
The time for peace and appeasement is over.
We have to fight for our country.
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us!
Cover Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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