Senator Bernard Sanders is Hillary Clinton’s main rival in the fight for the Democratic Party nomination in the presidential elections. The politician gained popularity thanks to his good result in the Iowa primaries.
However, its popularity is not only growing in the United States. In the small town of Słopnice, located in the Limanowa district, a real “Sandersomania” took place.
– Two years ago, Senator Sanders visited Słopnice. He wanted to know more about his family’s history – Adam Sołtys, the mayor of Słopnice, tells Onet.
Senator Sanders’ visit was organized by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The politician came to Poland to learn more about his family’s fate. His visit to Słopnice caused a great surprise. – We were all surprised that a personality of this stature wanted to come to our village – said the mayor of the town.
The US senator was born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, to a family of Polish Jews. His father, Eli Sanders, who emigrated to the United States in the 1920s, was born in Słopnice, near Limanowa, and his mother, in New York, also into a Polish Jewish family. Sanders’ family, who remained in Europe during World War II, perished in the Holocaust.
The senator visited, among other things, the place where his father’s family home was located in the 1990s. The municipal office offered the politician precious family memories. Due to his interest in history, the senator also visited Mszana Dolna, where he laid flowers at the monument to the victims of the Holocaust.
Now the residents of Słopnice are crossing their fingers for Bernard Sanders. They hope that the senator will manage to win the presidential election. – She is a very kind, warm and open person. After just a few hours, it seemed like we had known each other for several years, says the mayor of the town.
During his visit to Słopnice, the senator also visited, among other things, a school, municipal office and health center. – He surprised us positively. The organization of social affairs in our municipality impressed him a lot – remembers Adam Sołtys.
– When he finished his visit to our village, he thanked us very much for our pleasant welcome and invited us to the United States. Who knows, maybe if he wins the elections he will abolish visas for Poles and we will visit him in the White House – Adam Sołtys adds with a smile.
We present photos from Senator Bernard Sanders’ visit to Słopnice.
(DK)
