Bernie’s rally in Greenpoint, Brooklyn was the most hipster political event ever

Hundreds of Williamsburg’s finest eagerly descended on Bernie Sanders’ Brooklyn rally in Transmission Park today.

Pumped to see Bernie on his home turf and campaigning for the crucial April 19 New York Primary, crowds queued up for hours in advance to catch a glimpse of their silver-haired idol.

Walking straight out of a punchline from Lena Dunham’s Girls, every hipster stereotype your parents joke about was present, from the barista musicians to the activist bartenders.

Bernie catchphrases were well rehearsed, from disliking big banks to praising the honesty and integrity of the man himself.

We set out to find more about Bernie’s favourite crowd, and why they were here.

First up is Nadeem, 26, who explains he’s a content producer for what he calls a music and social justice site.

“I’m here like most progressives,” he says, enthusiastically handing us his card. It says “Elevtrtrax” on it. “History is on the side of the youth and Bernie is the only one qualified. My wife couldn’t be here because she’s out in LA, but she’s very jealous.”

So far, so Brooklyn. Next is Hank, a 39-year-old who tells us he’s a Pilates instructor, artist, and dancer. Believing in Bernie for his commitment to campaign finance laws reform, and women and gay equality.

“I think he’s changing how elections take place and how people get involved,” he says quietly.

A crowd has formed to take pictures around a woman with orange hair called Jen, who’s carrying her tiny dog Leo. She begins to rattle off the list of buzzwords about why she’s here.

“I’m supporting Bernie because he’s trying to break down the big banks, social equality –

“Social democracy,” shouts out a friend.

“Social democracy,” Jen continues, “and bridging the gap between rich and poor.”

Young dad Arthur stands next to them. He’s 28, and there with his baby boy Henry. Freelance web designer, musician, and bartender are among the five jobs he claims to work. He wins the prize so far for being the cookie-cutter hipster there.

“I also want Bernie to take all the money out of politics. And if my son grew up to be gay, I’d want him to be in a world where that was OK.”

Standing nearby are Genesis, Katherine, and Kimberly, all 15, who are here because their school two blocks away gave them a half day to come here.

“Bernie’s got what it takes to win,” Genesis says. Her friends smile in agreement.

A few older supporters are there, although there are far outnumbered by the younger crowd.

Dr Ron carries a Bernie selfie board, and invites us to take photo with it. Explaining he was one of the original web designers for Occupy Wall Street, he proclaims himself a “lifelong political activist.”

“I was old enough to own a gas mask in the 1960s, protesting the Vietnam war. I’m here to get people to virally spread the message of April 19, because when we show up, we win.”

The afternoon continues in a whirlwind of stereotypes. Nick, a 30-year-old bartender is “deeply concerned with economy and inequality,” while Robbie, a 26-year-old freelance film producer says Bernie “is the truth.” We begin to hear the same recycled buzzwords – the same repeated concerns about Wall Street, Washington, and the gap between rich and poor. It sounds too good to be true when we overhear Nick later talking about how his photo of the event racked up 30 likes online.

We seem to reach peak hipster when we meet Rebecca and Hamish, 20-something advertisers “in between positions,” hailing from New Zealand. They’ve picked up a Bernie poster and say they’re going to frame it in their apartment.

“He’s real,” Rebecca says. “I’ve never gotten behind my own [country’s] politics but Bernie really speaks to me.”

Hamish nods. “We’re going to start supporting him, rather than just talk about it. Someone real has turned up and seems concerned for people. It’s a revolution. It’s nice to be part of something different.”

A cynic would say this is just hashtag slacktivism: the belief that turning up and getting the poster amounts to making a difference. Hamish and Rebecca look at us and their new poster with determination.

Bernie is about to speak when we meet Caleb, a young activist here with his mum Trisha, who says he grew up on a farm Missouri. Once a Hillary campaigner, he switched sides when Bernie announced he was running.

Why does he support Bernie?

“I graduated with a degree in Political Science and I’m now in nearly $50,000 of debt. I believe in Bernie’s plan to make colleges free. I think we have the momentum to win.”

Finally, we find someone whose passion seems genuine. Here’s someone who knows what he’s talking about, who’s not just here for the Instagram he’ll get out of it, but someone who believes in the reforms Bernie promises. After an afternoon of talking to hipsters wearing vintage Central Asian hats and cargo pants, Caleb is a breath of fresh air.

We finish talking. Then he says: “Hey man, wanna see my Bernie tattoo?”

He takes off his sweater, rolls up his sleeve, and exposes his upper arm: “I wanted something that was mine. I wanted something abstract. People put Bernie in this abstract category of ideas, and I wanted something to represent that.”