Registered nurses from Iowa and several nearby states will join Drake Students for Sen. Bernie Sanders for a rally in Des Moines Saturday, prior to the second Democratic debate.

Nurses, who will be on hand from Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas as well as Iowa, will also canvass for Sanders prior to the rally, which is scheduled at Drake Park near the Drake University debate site.

Afterward, nurses will march to the Varsity Theater to join a Sanders debate watch party where, among others, author/activist Cornel West will speak.

What: Nurses Rally for Bernie Sanders
When: Saturday, November 14, 4 p.m.
Where: Drake Park, 2300 Drake Park Ave., Des Moines

(For more information on the nurses’ canvassing for Sanders in Des Moines, call 301-312-2343.)

The nurses are members of National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest organization of nurses, which in August became the first national union to endorse Sanders.

In announcing the endorsement, NNU emphasized how Sanders represents nurses’ values of caring, compassion, and community on key issues, including guaranteed healthcare for all; reversing inequality, poverty and hunger; robust action on the climate crisis; taxing Wall Street speculation to fund good paying jobs and education; and many others.

Since then, NNU leaders and nurse activists have campaigned with Sanders at rallies and other actions across the U.S., and held dozens of Sanders house parties for nurses and friends from coast to coast.

“We’re confident that Sen. Sanders will prevail in the Iowa caucuses because Iowans understand the country needs a leader who is trustworthy and consistent on the issues they care about most and who does not take corporate or Wall Street donations,” said NNU co-president Jean Ross, RN, who will attend the debate.

“Bernie has the most comprehensive plan on improving Social Security benefits, guaranteed health care for all, free tuition at public colleges and universities, ending student debt, confronting climate change and a host of other issues. That is why the nation’s most trusted profession puts its trust in Bernie Sanders—and why we are proud to support him,” Ross said.