Sanders says income inequality is a 'moral issue'

Sanders says income inequality is a 'moral issue'

(Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo)


10 photos
Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Calling income inequality "the great moral issue of our time," Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders urged a boisterous crowd of thousands in Maine on Monday to help him transform America by restoring a thriving middle class.

In a wide-ranging speech before more than 7,500 in Portland, Sanders stressed the need to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, reform the criminal justice system and give workers at least two weeks of paid vacation time.

The Vermont senator, who hopes to defeat front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primary, called the level of economic inequality across the country "grotesque" and "immoral."

But the self-described socialist said he cannot bring about change alone and called on the crowd to stand behind him as he tries to take on the "greed" of Wall Street and corporate America.

"When the people stand together, there is nothing we cannot accomplish," he said.

While Clinton remains the favorite, Sanders has been drawing large crowds across the country. He said that voters understand that "establishment politics and establishment economics isn't working for the middle class."

"All over America, people are becoming involved in this campaign because they want change," he said.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos

Related links

Related stories

Most recent U.S. stories

Related topics

PoliticsU.S.
The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast