Bernie Sanders to visit Louisville on Sunday to strike with AT&T workers and host rally

Courier Journal

Louisville is about to be in the middle of national politics again.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate, plans to visit Louisville for a rally and to join striking AT&T workers Sunday, according to his campaign website.

The rally, dubbed "People vs Corporate Power Rally with Bernie Sanders," will be at the City's Public Plaza, 144 N. Sixth St. People can arrive as early as 2:30 p.m., and the event is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Sanders is expected to speak out against Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's "obstruction in the U.S. Senate" during the visit.

"Gathering voters from across the state, Sanders will pressure McConnell to take up bills passed in the U.S. House to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour, stop gun violence and secure our elections," according to a campaign press release.

Before the rally, Sanders will join striking AT&T workers at the AT&T Building at 526 Armory Place at 1:30 p.m., according to his campaign website. The workers are striking over alleged unfair labor practices by management during negotiations for a new contract.

Sanders visited Kentucky in 2016 and in 2017. In his 2016 visit, around 7,000 people showed up under the Big Four Bridge to support the Vermont senator in his failed bid to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

His Sunday visit will be in a smaller location, and no attendance numbers have been released from the campaign.

Sanders' name has been showing up in Kentucky lately. Last week, Sanders sent pizzas to protesting Kentucky coal miners in Harlan County who found themselves out of work and pay when Blackjewel filed for bankruptcy on July 1.

He sent 18 boxes of Pizza Hut pizza, representing each day the miners had camped out and blocked an out-of-town train carrying $1 million in coal.

More Bernie:Sanders sends pizzas to Kentucky coal miners protesting Blackjewel

Sanders' visit will come just days after President Donald Trump's visit to Louisville to fundraise for Gov. Matt Bevin and speak to veterans.

Attendance is free for the senator's visit, but attendees are asked to RSVP for the fist-come, first-serve event.

There will be security at the event, and attendees won't get through with any sharp objects, chairs, bullhorns, sound amplification devices, hard-sided water bottles, food, homemade signs, banners, selfie sticks, umbrellas, backpacks or any bags larger than 7 by 11 inches, according to the event's RSVP portal.

Sanders' visit to Kentucky is part of a larger campaign tour. From Louisville, he will go to West Virginia to speak to workers as part of his Workplace Democracy Plan aimed at promoting the Green New Deal and supporting unions.

In Kentucky:Rocky Adkins considering a bid for Mitch McConnell's Senate seat

Reach breaking news reporter Sarah Ladd at sladd@courier-journal.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ladd_sarah. Reporter Chris Kenning contributed to this story. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.