CHARLESTON and WHEELING, WV (August 4, 2025) – Senator Bernie Sanders is bringing his “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” rally tour to West Virginia on August 8 in Wheeling and August 9 in Charleston—with an additional stop in Mingo County on the 9th as well.
The events at the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling and the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center promise sizable crowds as Sanders addresses economic inequality, corporate power, healthcare access, and the urgent need for grassroots political engagement across “deep-red” communities.
A homegrown leader and dedicated community organizer, Zach Shrewsbury has been instrumental in coordinating these rallies locally, working to ensure strong turnout and smooth logistics between Wheeling, Lenore, and Charleston. A former U.S. Marine and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate known for his grassroots organizing and commitment to labor and environmental justice, Shrewsbury brings local credibility and organizing experience to the effort.
Shrewsbury will also serve as the headline speaker for the Wheeling and Charleston rallies, offering reflections on West Virginia’s working-class challenges and the promise of populist, community-driven policy solutions. Shrewsbury’s remarks will set a powerful tone and reinforce the movement’s emphasis on local voices and collective action.
These rallies are more than political speeches; they are a call to action. Organizers say a central goal of the tour is to inspire and empower a new generation of working-class candidates, especially young people, to step forward and run for office. “If we want to change the future of this state, we need people who’ve lived the struggle to lead the way,” Shrewsbury said. “That means students, veterans, single parents, laid-off workers, all of us. We don’t have to wait for permission to take power back.” Through his organization, Bluejay Rising, Shrewsbury is already working to lead disenfranchised West Virginians, especially in the coalfields, back to the ballot box and into the fight for political power.
