The largest crowd to gather for a sit-down banquet in Terre Haute Convention Center history crowded into its ballroom to hear U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT, speak respectfully about labor visionary Eugene V. Debs on Saturday night. Sanders was honored with the Debs Foundation Award for his lifelong contribution to the struggle for social justice.

Sanders received numerous standing ovations and chants of "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" as he entered the event and spoke for about 45 minutes. He declared, "Debs is one of the great figures in American history — he has inspired me."

He added, "He not only educated people on the nature of American capitalism, but presented an alternative vision to greed and exploitation."

Sanders quoted Debs frequently and noted how "relevant" and "right and perce

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