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Sanders speaks to thousands in Ann Arbor

On the eve of Michigan's March 8 primary, Senator Bernie Sanders stumped for votes in Ann Arbor. He spoke before a crowd that MLive estimated at more than 5,700 in the Crisler Center on the University of Michigan campus.

The crowd anticipated Sanders eagerly. Before he appeared, the Michigan Daily reported the students chanting, “Feel the Bern, Bernie will make it easy to learn; Feel the Bern, Bernie will make it free to learn.” Sanders did not disappoint on that issue.

“When we think outside of the box, we choose to conclude that we need to make public colleges and universities tuition free,” the Michigan Daily quoted Sanders. “We need to substantially reduce student debt by allowing those with debt to refinance their loans at the lowest possible interest rates as they can.”

In addition to addressing free higher education, Sanders turned his sights on his opponents. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's connections to Wall Street came under his fire first.

"Secretary Clinton on a number of occasions has given speeches to financial institutions like Goldman Sachs behind closed doors and got paid $225,000 per speech," Sanders told the audience, a statement which MLive reported was greeted with a chorus of boos. "I think if you got paid $225,000 for a speech, it must be a fantastic speech, don't you think? One of the great speeches in world history. And if it's such a great speech, Secretary Clinton, share it with the American people."

Sanders attacked Donald Trump later in his address. In particular, he went after after Trump's attempts to use fear and bigotry to divide the nation.

"We will together defeat Trump because the American people understand that bringing our people together trumps divisiveness," he said as quoted by the Michigan Daily. "The American people will defeat Trump because they understand that a community helping each other, standing with each other in our times of need, trumps selfishness."

"And the American people will defeat Trump most profoundly," Sanders concluded as quoted by MLive, "because they know what every religion in the world teaches, whether it's Christianity, Judaism, Islam or Buddhism, and that is ultimately: Love trumps hatred."

Several celebrity supporters appeared at the rally, including Detroit band JR JR and actress Shalene Woodley. Woodley, known for her roles in the Divergent series, encouraged the audience to vote while repeating one of Sanders' catch phrases, "Democracy is not a spectator sport."

Sanders also appealed to the crowd to get out the vote. "Tomorrow is a very, very important day in the history of politics in America," he said as quoted by MLive. "If there is a large voter turnout tomorrow, we will win ... Tomorrow, Michigan has the opportunity to move this country forward toward a political revolution."