Danny Glover on Bernie Sanders: We have never had this opportunity before in America

GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Danny Glover introduced Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders at a rally in South Carolina on Sunday night, saying Sanders is building a movement to change the country.

"What a moment, what a moment," Glover said onstage in Greenville in front of thousands. "You can feel the Bern, don't you feel it?"

"It is amazing to know that you are building not only a movement, but you are building that movement on the stage of a presidential election. We have never had that opportunity before. We are going to change this country," the Lethal Weapon star continued about how Sanders would fight for race and economic equality in the United States.

Glover, who has a long history of fighting for civil rights and labor issues spoke with The Washington Post about why he decided to publicly back Sanders.

"To find someone like Bernie Sanders, someone who has integrity, who believes in our role as ordinary citizens who are able to place demands on governance -- I came on board on the basis of that," he said. "I wasn't asked to come on board ... I saw this opportunity."

Glover's backing comes right as fellow actor Will Ferrell switched allegiances from Sanders to Hillary Clinton, donating to her campaign and agreeing to co-host a fundraiser in Los Angeles on Monday.

Sanders is coming off a loss to Clinton in the Nevada caucuses with both candidates now looking forward to the South Carolina primary on Saturday.