Caroline Gleich joins Bernie Sanders, AOC at ‘Fight the Oligarchy’ rally in Salt Lake City

Bernie Sanders waves to the crowd at a "Fighting Oligarchy" rally in Los Angeles on April 12, 2025. Photo: AP

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – A crowd of more than 20,000 people gathered in Salt Lake City over the weekend for the “Fighting Oligarchy” rally, a national tour stop led by Sen. Bernie Sanders, with appearances by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Utah climate activist Caroline Gleich.

The high-energy event called for bold action to curb billionaire influence in politics, increase economic equity, and support environmental justice.

Caroline Gleich, a Park City-based mountaineer and longtime climate advocate, who ran for a Utah senate seat in 2024, fired up the crowd with a message of grassroots empowerment. “The energy is electric, and it is so clear—Utahns are fired up and ready to reclaim our power to fight billionaire influence in politics, and to reclaim our version of the American dream,” she said. “20,000 of us showed up to show we will not tolerate authoritarianism.”

As Sanders took the stage the crowd erupted in cheers and stood on their feet.

While introducing Sanders, AOC criticized Utah’s six Republican members of Congress for supporting a GOP funding bill that, according to Democrats, would boost profits for Elon Musk’s companies.

“We are living in the most dangerous moment in the modern history of this country,” Sanders said at the rally.

During her speech Gleich referenced recent book and pride flag bans saying she sees the county moving backwards.

The rally marked a rare convergence of national progressive voices in Utah, energizing a crowd that spanned generations and political backgrounds.

 

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