McKibben to speak at Sanders kickoff

Bill McKibben, a Vermont environmental activist and author, will speak at the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign kickoff in Burlington next week, according to a Sanders spokesman.

"Bernie's sponsored the most aggressive climate change legislation in Congress," said Michael Briggs, a spokesman for the Sanders campaign. He added that McKibben and Sanders both worked to stop the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline and participated in a New York City climate change march last fall.

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"Bernie is the ultimate what-you-see-is-what-you-get politician," McKibben said in an email. "There's no fancy moves and no adroit spin, just relentless day-in day-out advocacy for working people, and for a working planet. Bernie's been in the forefront of all the crucial environmental fights of recent years, always willing to knuckle down and do the hard work of fighting the big corporations."

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, founders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., are also expected to speak — with free ice cream in tow.

Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, will launch his campaign from Burlington 5 p.m. Tuesday at Waterfront Park.

Contact April Burbank at (802) 660-1863 or aburbank@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AprilBurbank