By Brenda Flanagan
Correspondent
It’s like Woodstock for Bernie fans — some 200 of them, camped out at Parvin State Park in Salem County. Call it Bernstock because they feel the Bern, and so much more.
“Well the rock and roll is still here — that is where the heaven is. I’m sure the sex and the drugs are. But it is a different vision — and that’s the opening of our eyes,” said Matt Durney of St. Louis, Mo.
Many in Bernie’s grassroots army couldn’t afford a Philadelphia hotel, so they booked campsites 40 miles away — across South Jersey. Some stay at private campgrounds, others here at the state park. Bernstock campers share cooking chores. Politics and guitar music waft with incense through the pines.
“It’s all about showing up. And showing others that there are people showing up — and that you can show up, too,” said Leo Castrence of Hawaii.
“I think this generation is awake. And the festival scene is waking up to the society scene and it’s starting to merge in a beautiful way,” said Adam Shimoni of Flagstaff, Ariz.
“We’re in the forest, we’re in nature where nature’s beautiful. I couldn’t have asked for a better location for all of us to centralize and come together. It’s been really nice and harmonious. We’ve been cultivating meditation,” said Priscilla Momah of Big Island, Hawaii.
It’s still a daily trip to the DNC for rallies in Philly, but that’s no biggie: many here have been on the road for days. Some had joined the “Up to Us” caravan only to end up here.
Kids stay behind in camp during daytime political missions. What distinguishes these pilgrims is their gentile MO.
“There’s a better way too communicate than shouting at each other. And if we all have a voice, instead of screaming over each other, a lot more gets accomplished quicker,” said Kait Olson of Minnesota.
“If we want these things for ourselves, we’ve got to do it. We can no longer be putting our power in someone else’s hands,” Momah said.
Different tribes coalesce in support. Names are fluid here at Camp Bernie, where mysticism can trump politics.
“Define our tribe? People of the land. People who are the sun worshipers and the moon worshipers. People who appreciate the Earth,” said Hannah Buchheit of St. Louis, Mo.
“It felt really right to come here and be acting upon the principles that we feel are going to sustain us, both us as humans and the Earth,” said Eli A. Bridge of Vermont.
“Everybody’s on their own journey but yet we’re a cohesive community,” said Terry Buchanan of Greenville, S.C.
Ryan McWilliams makes signs. He supports Bernie.
“We’re just here, just trying to be peaceful and be heard. We just want to be heard. Everybody needs to be heard. It’s about time. It’s been going on for far too long,” he said.
For many of these campers it doesn’t matter that Bernie’s campaign is over because their quest will continue. It transcends politics.