But the most noted display of Sanders' support for the defense industry came before his time in the Senate, when he was mayor of Burlington, Vermont. In 1983, activists protested a munitions factory in Burlington because it was manufacturing guns going to Central America for use in Ronald Reagan's commie-smashing efforts. Many in the area weren't that cool with covert death squads, and some tried to block the entrance to the factory. Mayor Sanders had them all arrested.
His excuse? The protesters blocked employees from their work, so cracking down on them was actually in line with his principles. Plus, we guess jail does technically count as free government-sponsored housing, even if it's only for a few days.
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