From those experiences of growing up without a lot of money, I have never forgotten that there are millions of people throughout this country who struggle to put food on the table, pay the electric bill, try to save for their kids’ education or for retirement - people who against great odds are fighting today to live in dignity. As with many of your families who don’t have a lot of money, financial pressures caused friction and tension within our household.

First, my mom, dad and older brother, who graduated from Brooklyn College, lived in a 3 1/2 room rent-controlled apartment. My childhood in Brooklyn was shaped by two profound realities. My mom had died the previous year and I felt it was time to leave the neighborhood and see what the rest of the world looked like. After that year I left for the University of Chicago, where I eventually graduated. In 1959, as a first-generation college student I attended Brooklyn College for a year - a year which had a major impact in my life.

Savior’s High School a few miles away from here. My wife, Jane, was also raised Flatbush and Bedford-Stuyvesant, and graduated from St. I grew up in Flatbush and, like Senator Schumer, graduated from James Madison High School. am greatly honored of the honorary degree you have given me. Let me thank President Michelle Anderson, Nicole Haas, the Brooklyn College Administration, faculty and staff and all of you for inviting Jane and me back to Brooklyn where we were both born and raised. I do want, on behalf of my wife, Jane, and myself, to pray that you all live healthy and happy lives, doing the work you enjoy surrounded in love by family and friends.

Today is an important day in your lives, something that I know you have worked very hard to achieve, and I want to wish all of you the very best of luck in your future endeavors. Let me begin by congratulating the graduating class of 2017. But I do want to say that standing up here and looking out at the beautiful people in front of me, I have enormous confidence in the future of our country. You know and I know that these are tough times for our country. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders gave the commencement address at Brooklyn College on Monday.

The Speech by Bernie Sanders