Bernie Sanders Rally Goes Silent Amid Medical Emergency

Almost an hour into a 64-minute stump speech, Bernie Sanders quieted thousands in National City as emergency workers attended to a woman at his second local rally in two months.

“Medic, medic, medic,” members of the largely young crowd said Friday night at Kimball Park, pointing down as Sanders took a step back from the lectern.

After three minutes of near silence, the presidential underdog said, “Somebody fainted,” and thanked the “EMTs” he saw working to his right.

When a group of people began shouting “Bernie cares,” Sanders at first ignored them. He bowed his head and waited quietly until the woman being wheeled away on a gurney gave a thumbs up.

People again chanted “Bernie cares.” But Sanders misheard that as “Bernie can” and said: “No, it’s not Bernie can — we all can” and briefly remarked on how people should care for each other.

Details of the medical issue weren’t immediately known, but Sanders resumed his speech, ending with a call for Democrats to generate the “highest voter turnout in California history” and see the state lead his “political revolution.”

Sanders was silent on his opponent as well, never mentioning Hillary Clinton by name but calling her out via phrases like “small, incremental changes.”

Clinton’s opponent for the Democratic nomination was introduced by comedian George Lopez, who led a chant of Sanders’ slogan “Enough is enough.”

“Nothing is over yet, and this movement is still going on,” Lopez said. “I want you to have money. I want you to have an education. I want the police to leave us alone.”

In English and Spanish, Lopez said: “We speak the language of Bernie Sanders, and Bernie Sanders is speaking to us.”

Sanders stuck to familiar themes in his speech, which was streamed live on YouTube via @Bernie2016TV.

“Together we are going to create an economy that works for all of us, not just wealthy contributors,” he told the cheering crowd. “(America needs) a democracy that does not mean a campaign finance system in which billionaires buy elections.”

“We need a massive federal jobs program to put our people back to work,” Sanders said, advocating that the federal government could create such jobs by rebuilding America’s infrastructure, including water treatment facilities and roads.

With independent mayoral candidate Lori Saldaña in the crowd, Sanders said he supports the right of states to legalize marijuana and said he would vote for the California ballot initiative to do so if he lived here.

He also called on America to “invest in young people in jobs and an education, not in incarceration” and to “make public colleges and universities tuition-free,” which drew some of the biggest cheers and applause.

He said 50 years ago, free public college education “virtually existed here in California.”

Hats and buttons were sold near food trucks as the rally had the feel of a community picnic or carnival — which was expected to draw between 7,000 and 10,000 people. (A National City police officer said the estimate was about right.)

But tight security reigned, with long lines waiting to get past Secret Service checkpoints. No protests — by Trump or Clinton supporters — were apparent.

Sanders also was scheduled to speak Sunday afternoon in Vista at Rancho Buena Vista High School.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a May 27 rally at the San Diego Convention Center.

— City News Service contributed to this report.

Bernie Sanders fans enjoyed picnic atmosphere hours before talk at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans passed food trucks at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

National City proclamation at Bernie Sanders rally. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fan at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders artwork at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans throng National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders addresses crowd at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders urged record voter turnout at June 7 primary. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders roused crowd at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders spoke for 64 minutes at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders rally sign at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders pauses amid medical treatment of woman at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders salutes crowd after talk at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders salutes crowd after talk at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

With Secret Service agents nearby, Bernie Sanders greets the crowd after talk. Photo by Chris Stone

Tony Barbieri as “Jake Byrd” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” holds sign at Sanders rally. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans wrap around the block to attend a rally at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders fans walk toward security entrance at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Between 7,000 and 10,000 were expected for Sanders rally. Photo by Chris Stone

Audience members interact with George Lopez, who autographed a man’s chest at Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Comedian George Lopez introduced Bernie Sanders at Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders awaits introduction at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders enters stage area for his introduction at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders greets thousands of fans at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders at National City’s Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

Bernie Sanders spoke at dusk at Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone

District 7 San Diego City Council candidate Jose Caballero held a Veterans for Bernie sign on the stage. Photo by Chris Stone

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke to more than 7,000. Photo by Chris Stone

Potential Sanders delegate Mike Johnson wore an oversized mask for “selfies with Bernie” at Kimball Park. Photo by Chris Stone