Crowd At Bernie Rally Traced To Activist Network With Repeat Protest Histories

A gathering promoted as a record-setting political rally in Denver is now being questioned after mobile tracking data showed that a large portion of the attendees were not new supporters but veteran demonstrators. Hosted by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), the event was hailed by the left as a populist resurgence. But a breakdown of GPS data tells a different story.

Data compiled from smartphone devices placed the actual number of attendees at just over 20,000 — far below the 34,000 claimed by Sanders. The data also revealed that the vast majority of those present had attended a long list of other left-wing events in recent years, including protests linked to Antifa, Black Lives Matter and pro-Palestinian causes.

Of the tracked devices, 84% were linked to at least nine prior rallies. Around 31% had been logged at over 20 different demonstrations. These repeat appearances suggest a pattern of mobilized protest groups rather than spontaneous voter enthusiasm.

Further analysis connected the attendees to organizations known for aggressive protest tactics. Devices showed repeated close proximity to individuals involved with groups such as Disruption Project, Democratic Socialists of America and the Indivisible Project. These organizations are known to receive funding through ActBlue, with some reportedly tied to USAID channels.

Tony Seruga, a data analyst who examined the event, said his team used a wide array of behavioral and location metrics to identify activist affiliations. Device owners were cross-referenced with historical data sets, consumer databases and protest attendance histories to build profiles.

The Democratic Party has leaned on similar methods before. During Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, supporters were transported to event locations to manufacture crowd size. That same strategy now appears to have been used to boost optics at the Denver rally.

The event took place as the party’s public approval continued to decline. A recent CNN poll found the Democratic favorability rating at just 27%.

The crowd also included many individuals frequently seen near known protest organizers and financial backers, further suggesting an orchestrated event rather than genuine grassroots support.

 

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