Data Reveals Bernie-AOC Rally Was Packed With Repeat Activists, Not Grassroots Surge

A rally in Denver led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is facing new scrutiny after data revealed that the massive crowd was largely made up of repeat activists with a long history of appearing at left-wing protests. The event, billed as a show of rising momentum for the Democratic Party, may have been more staged than spontaneous.

Sanders claimed that 34,000 people gathered in Denver’s Civic Center to oppose “authoritarianism” and “Trumpism.” But GPS-based analysis showed that just over 20,000 unique devices were present. Data analyst Tony Seruga pointed out that the overwhelming majority — about 84% — of attendees had previously been to nine or more similar rallies, including events for Kamala Harris, pro-Palestinian demonstrations and Antifa-aligned protests.

Of those, nearly one-third had attended more than 20 such events. The findings raise questions about how organic the rally really was, especially with the Democratic Party’s approval ratings falling to historic lows.

Advanced software mapped device histories to show consistent overlap with known protest groups. Many of the phones belonged to individuals regularly clustered around organizers and funders affiliated with groups like Disruption Project, Indivisible Project and the Democratic Socialists of America. Some of these groups receive funding via ActBlue, with several reportedly also linked to USAID money.

The practice of transporting protest crowds using activist networks is not new. During Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign, buses were used to move groups from city to city in an effort to generate enthusiastic media coverage. That tactic now appears to be in play again, this time to support AOC and Sanders as the Democratic Party struggles to maintain a sense of momentum.

The rally came just days after CNN reported that Democrats had hit a new low in public approval — just 27%. In contrast, polling shows steady support for President Donald Trump and rising confidence in the country’s direction.

Crowd analysis technology also revealed how individuals were grouped near key leftist leaders and fundraisers at prior events, further confirming the rally was composed of the same protest networks, not a fresh wave of supporters.