Woman at Sanders rally tearfully details life in poverty

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders  on Monday listened to emotional testimony from a woman at a campaign rally who tearfully detailed the difficulties of supporting her family while making minimum wage.



Speaking at a rally in Iowa Falls, Sanders asked people in the crowd to stand and talk about what it’s like to live off $12,000 a year.



According to video posted by The Washington Post, a woman took the microphone and choked-up as she explained how ashamed she felt that she couldn’t support her family without help from her parents.



“I’ve been living off probably less than [$12,000] for some time because of disabilities and it’s so hard to do anything to pay your bills,” she said. “You’re ashamed all the time … when you can’t buy presents for your children, it’s really, really hard.”



“I worked three, four, five jobs sometimes, always minimum wage,” she continued. “I have a degree. Divorced. And it’s just waiting for disability to come through so my parents have to support me. It’s just hard.”



The crowd sat silently before bursting into applause when the woman finished.



“Thank you. Thank you,” Sanders responded. “It is not easy for people to stand up and say that. But the truth is that until millions of people who are experiencing what you’re experiencing do say that we don’t make change.”