Bernie Sanders: Americans, be ready to protect democracy

The senator said the public need to take Trump's threats seriously

Less than a day since Donald Trump refused to commit to leaving office peacefully in the event of election defeat, Bernie Sanders called on all Americans to be ready to stand up for democracy regardless of their political allegiance. The warning gives genuine weight to the president's bravado about refusing to concede the election. "We must ensure, in this unprecedented moment in American history that this is an election that is free and fair, an election in which voters are not intimidated, an election in which all votes are counted and an election in which the loser accepts the results. "This is not just an election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. This is an election between Donald Trump and democracy – and democracy must win." Sanders' comments follow a worrying answer given by Trump in a press conference Wednesday. Asked by a reporter if he would commit to a peaceful transferral of power, the president said: "We're going to have to see what happens. You know that. I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. "Get rid of the ballots and you'll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer, frankly, there'll be a continuation. The ballots are out of control. You know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else." American voters should take Trump at his word, Sanders says. "I think it is terribly important that we actually listen to, and take seriously, what Donald Trump is saying."