“If we stand for anything, we have got to stand together and end all forms of racism.”

FAIRFAX, Va— Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders brought a Muslim student to the stage during a speech in Fairfax, Virginia to highlight the divisive history behind bigotry and racism.

The student had told Sanders that the anti-Islamic rhetoric being spread by politicians makes her “sick.”

“As an individual, I’m constantly trying to raise awareness and make sure that everyone is treated equally in this country. As the next president of the United States, what do you think about that?” George Mason University senior Remaz Abdelgader told Sanders.

The candidate approached Abdelgader and invited her to stand next to him on the podium.

He said for many years politicians have pinned people against each other based on their ethnicity, religion, gender and sexual orientation.

“The rich got richer; everybody else was fighting each other,” he said. “Our job is to build a nation in which we all stand together as one people.”

He added that it is “absolutely correct” that Muslims are being unfairly targeted by bigots. 

“If we stand for anything, we have got to stand together and end all forms of racism, and I will lead that effort as president of the United States,” he said. 

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