TOWN HALL

and Pettersen quickly rebuked the apparent xenophobia.

Bennet explained to the crowd that one third of the growth of Colorado’s

GDP over time has been from immigration.

“Illegal!” someone from the audience shouted as the senator spoke.

“It’s not illegal immigration, it’s immigration over that period of time….there are serious economic consequences to deciding we aren’t going to have a functional immigra- tion system,” Bennet replied. Bennet went on to discuss the circumstances that led to the election of former president Donald Trump, including that the former president stated “Mexicans are rapists” as part of his campaign for building a border wall. is remark led to cries of dissent from members of the crowd, some saying “he didn’t say that…what he meant was…”

Bennet, in his passionate speech, responded directly to those defending the former president.

“ at is what he said. Run the tape,” Bennet said.