The feeling was almost… jubilant at a sun-soaked U.S. Capitol rally this afternoon where Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and hundreds of labor and other social justice activists celebrated the defeat of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and vowed to fight some of President-elect Donald Trump’s policies.

A variety of labor unions, including nurses and flight attendants, as well as other supporters gathered at Upper Senate Park to press for a common social justice agenda. Many waved anti-TPP signs and posters reading “Hindsight is 2020,” referencing a future Sanders presidential run. Several speakers affirmed their solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe and vowed to fight for embattled Americans.

“I have not the slightest doubt that millions of people voted for Donald Trump despite, despite their understanding he is a racist and a sexist. But they voted for him because they believed he was going to stand up to the establishment. WE all know Donald Trump is not going to stand up to the establishment, WE are are going to stand up to the establishment,” Sanders said to enthusiastic cheers. Earlier in the day, Sanders told reporters at a breakfast that if Trump “has the guts” to stand up to corporate interests, “he will have an ally with me.”

Sanders and liberal darling Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have both recently been elected to posts within the Senate Democratic leadership.

Both have also received criticism for these types of statements, which some argue exonerate the racist elements of Trump’s populist message.

But Sanders took a firm tone when he emphasized his commitment to racial justice as well as a diverse array of progressive causes.

“There are some areas we will not compromise on one iota. We will not compromise on the issues of racism, on sexism, on xenophobia, on Islamophobia,” Sanders continued. “We can disagree on public policy.”

Some speakers celebrated the defeat of the TPP, which was set to be the largest regional trade agreement in history. The signature Obama administration deal would have set new terms for business investment and trade for the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations (with the notable exception of China.) However, conservatives argued it siphoned American jobs while progressives said it was too secretive among other issues; critics on both sides saw the TPP as a symbol of failed globalization.

“This is a big victory,” said Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii). “We know that this will not be the last destructive [trade] deal that is proposed. So as we celebrate this moment let us not be complacent. We must hold leaders here at our nation’s capitol accountable.”

President-elect Donald Trump promised to reject the deal during his campaign, so efforts to secure its approval in Congress have effectively ended. Labor and progressive organizations had been protesting the TPP for months.

“It’s important to be clear, the TPP was stopped because of you and Donald Trump had nothing to do with it,” union federation AFL-CIO vice president Tefere Gebre said. “Today is our day to celebrate and nothing can take that from us.”

National Nurses United, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S., were the lead organizers of the rally titled “Day of Action,” which was endorsed by more than 60 organizations.

“Nurses are the people who see the fallout of the inequities in society, when people don’t have jobs or adequate healthcare or are affected by environmental pollution or when they have malnutrition,” said Charles Idelson, a National Nurses United spokesperson. “They end up where nurses end up caring them. Nurses understand that advocacy does not end at the bedside…putting people in motion, that’s how you achieve change, that’s how you fight for people’s rights.”

According to organizers, the event was held to promote “a common commitment to stepping up grassroots mobilizations for economic and social justice and equality as the incoming Trump administration takes office.”

“It is time for a new direction for the Democratic party,” Sanders said. “If we are going to go forward successfully the Democratic Party has got to recognize some very important things that Donald Trump did indeed recognize. That is, yes, we are better off economically than we were eight years ago, we’ve made a lot of progress in a lot of areas, but—but, there are millions of people today, working class people, middle class people, lower income people, who are living in despair and we have got to recognize that reality…

In typical Bernie fashion, the vaguely curmudgeonly Senator waved away enthusiastic chants of “Bernie! Bernie!”

“I appreciate your love, and it is mutual. I love you all,” Sander said before shushing his supporters. “But brothers and sisters if I have any message today it is not ‘Bernie’ it is all of us together.”