Obama Inspires

Young people crowd a rally for Democratic candidate

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Senator Barack Obama of Illinois speaks at a rally in Oakland, California, on March 17, 2007. Obama is a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Photo: Courtesy of Mariellen Hofland)

March 18, 2007

On Saint Patrick’s Day, Micah Kalem, 12, of San Leandro, California, came to Oakland with his mom to show his support for presidential candidate Barack Obama. The Senator from Illinois came to California to raise money and votes for his bid to win the Democratic nomination.

Micah was one of about 3,000 people who attended a rally for Obama in the Bay area of the Golden State. He told Scholastic News Online that he wanted to learn about Obama’s stand on the issues. Although too young to vote, he said he was concerned about who is elected President.

“He will not be that strict on the nation,” he said when asked what he learned from Obama’s speech.

Senator Obama stood on a stage in front of Oakland City Hall. Beginning with loud music, the rally attracted a lively and diverse crowd of people. Twenty minutes before the rally began, city hall plaza was packed from the stage to the road. Some people were hanging on to the light poles to get a glimpse of the second front-runner for the Democratic nomination.

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums opened the rally, thanking everyone for attending. After Mayor Dellum’s short speech, U.S. Army Sergeant Greg Georgatos introduced Senator Obama. The crowd cheered as he took the stage, shaking hands along the way.

In his speech, Obama spoke about his opposition to the war in Iraq.

Micah K., 12, of San Leandro, California, talks to Scholastic Kid Reporter Mariellen Hofland at a political rally for Senator Barak Obama in Oakland on March 17, 2007. (Photo: Courtsey of Mariellen Hofland)

“We are in the midst of a war that should have never been authorized,” he said. “We want to give the Iraqi government a chance to stand up. We want to be your [Iraq’s] partner, but we can't continue this occupation.”

As she stood in line to get into the rally, Maryann Costa of Concord, California, said she wasn't yet committed to voting for Obama. However, she said if he were to be elected President, “the whole country would be more optimistic.”

Asline Jones, of Berkeley, California, said she was fired up and ready to vote for Obama. It doesn’t matter to her that the election is still almost two years away, she said. People won’t get tired of it before the general election in November 2008. “Not if he’s in it!” she said, referring to Obama. She said Obama would give the poor a better voice in government.

One objective observer at the rally, Phil Matier, the political journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle, said this rally was different from others he has covered in the past. He noted that there were more young people than usual. “It is interesting to see,” he told Scholastic News Online.

As for 12-year-old Micah Kalem, he listened carefully to the speech. Someday, he said, he may go to a political rally to do more than listen. Saturday’s rally could lead to an inspiration to follow in the footsteps of the young African-American Senator from Illinois.

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