GREENWICH VILLAGE — The Bernie Sanders campaign is planning a massive rally in Washington Square Park on April 13 ahead of the April 19 New York primary, according to a spokesman.
The campaign had previously been secretive about the location of its rally, indicating only that it had secured a "difficult to obtain" permit for a "highly coveted Manhattan location."
But Sanders' campaign spokesman Michael Briggs confirmed the rally will be held in the park.
The rally was initially planned for April 14, until the Sanders campaign acquiesced to the Clinton campaign's request to hold a debate the night of April 14.
The two campaigns have been sparring over potential debate dates, as POLITICO reported. The Washington Square Park location was first reported by POLITICO, after a campaign staffer mentioned it on CNN.
Mayor Bill de Blasio inserted himself into the fray on Monday by vowing to secure for the candidate any permit he needs as long as he agrees to debate Clinton on April 14 in Brooklyn.
Let's make @NY1 4/14 BKLYN debate happen. @BernieSanders: I'll help you secure any permit you need to ensure your NYC rally can happen too.
— Bill de Blasio (@BilldeBlasio) April 4, 2016
A spokeswoman for the Parks Department said the agency is working with the Sanders campaign to process their permitting application, which was submitted last week.
The typical processing time for such an application is 21 days, but the agency anticipates having Sanders' permit processed sooner than that.
