Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., will speak to UF students and Gainesville residents this morning.
The presidential candidate will come to the University Village South Field, situated next to the Southwest Recreation Center, said Isaac Netzer, the president of Progressive Gators. Guests will be allowed in starting at 8 a.m., and Sanders will speak at 11 a.m. No tickets are required for the free event, and Sanders is not being paid to speak.
Between 4,000 and 8,000 people are expected to attend, Netzer, a UF political science sophomore, said. Those interested in attending can RSVP at map.berniesanders.com, but admission will be given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guests can park at UF’s Cultural Plaza on Hull Road, Netzer said. Sanders’ campaign is working with University Police to help with traffic and security.
Netzer, 20, said those not attending the event should expect traffic delays in the morning.
“If you’re considering going to the gym between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., I would reconsider,” he said.
RTS posted a release warning about detours and delays today. Bledsoe Road will be closed from 7 a.m. to noon and the Samuel P. Harn Museum, Southwest Recreational Complex and Family Housing cannot be accessed, according to the release. The busses will be detoured to Radio Road and NW 34th Street. Routes 117, 118, 119 and 125 will use the 34th Street park-n-ride.
If the number attending rises, Natzer said the campaign will consider busing people to the event from another lot. He said Sanders’ campaign called him Tuesday to coordinate Sanders’ visit to UF.
Netzer and his group have wanted to bring Sanders to UF since he announced his run for the presidency, he said.
“I’m hoping this wakes up people and wakes Bernie Sanders supporters up,” he said.
Steven Ochoa, a UF finance sophomore, said he’s supported Sanders since he appeared on “The Colbert Report” a few years ago.
On the show, Sanders spoke about his support of universal health care, the 19-year-old said.
He said health care is important to him because his father was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 34.
“Ever since then, I liked what he stands for,” Ochoa said.
He said he wants to get in line at 7:30 a.m. to see Sanders speak.
“I like to pick candidates off their character rather than their affiliation,” Ochoa said.
Contact Caitlin Ostroff at costroff@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @ceostroff
Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a campaign rally, Tuesday, March 8, 2016, in Miami.
