Sanders Speaks to Overflow Crowd in Salem

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a first-in-the-nation Democratic presidential candidate, attracted an over capacity crowd in Salem on Aug. 23, 2015.

The gym, according to Jeffrey Hastings of Frame of Mind Photography, “was packed and the line was still out the door.” Political reporters on Twitter estimated the crowd to be about 1,000 people.

Campaign workers worked with Salem Fire Department to set up an overflow room which also quickly became filled to capacity. The non-air-conditioned rooms reached more than 100 degrees with campaign workers setting up fans and passing out water, according to Hastings.

Sanders first visited the overflow room and spoke briefly, and then joined the main room after a few short speeches from local activists as well as Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Captions: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks in Salem. Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, introduced Sanders at the event. Credit: Jeffrey Hastings/Frame of Mind Photography. FrameofMindPhoto.com.