USPS mail harassment of Bravenak

[aikoaiko]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by TM99 (a host of the Bernie Sanders group).

Last edited Thu Sep 10, 2015, 01:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Hey All,

I don't post much in this group, but you've probably seen me post in GDP in support of Bernie, sometimes zealously.

For those of you who don't know, a DU member who is currently on timeout for 5 hidden posts was sent this letter through the USPS:

[IMG][/IMG]

I have a hard time believing this harassing letter is from an actual Bernie Sander supporter, but I do think it is incumbent on us to call out such bullshit behavior.

I also think its important that Bernie Sanders be careful to not let those who are very unhappy with Bernie's success to goad us or take advantage of us because of this letter.

And, please, if you know who did this, Bernie Sanders supporter or not, please inform Skinner.

Eta: Just to be clear I am not criticizing those who voted to hide Bravenak's posts or any of the others who were recently hidden. When emotions run high and people argue vigorously, word choices make all the difference in a 4:3 hide versus of 3:4 leave.

[tk2kewl]

1. where did the postmark say it came from?

that'd be a start at identifying the thug

[mak3cats]

7. Florida (St Petersburg, I believe) eom

[99th_Monkey]

2. K&R n/t

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Think about this for a second

who does the letter really smear?
why would they declare they are a Bernie supporter?
who benefits by this?

[HooptieWagon]

11. Sometimes things aren't what they appear at face value. nt

[aikoaiko]

14. I agree with what you are implying.

Which makes it even more important that we call it regardless of the motives of the sender.

[Zorra]

15. I didn't have to think about it. I saw through it immediately. nt

[bvf]

16. Well, one DU member has already twisted this

sorry episode to imply that it's happened more than once.

Will update with a link momentarily...

ETA link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=post&forum=1251&pid=582650

[arcane1]

21. Coming as no surprise to anyone.

They'll gleefully exploit this, I have no doubt.

[sabrina 1]

28. It smears Bernie Supporters. So apparently it is not from a Bernie supporter. I am the Queen of

England if I want to be in an anonymous post/letter. Name the person, call the cops or the FBI.

Find out who this is, I want to know, this is BS.

Has Bravenak called the police? THAT is the ONLY way to know who did this and I see a smear here aimed at Bernie and his supporters.

If the cops or the FBI have not been called, then it's time to do that right now imo!

[villager]

29. Agree that we have to apply the "Cui Bono" test to this...

All the more important to find out who really sent it...

[grasswire]

4. post the envelope

black out her identifying information and post the envelope

It seems awfully weird that the sender would call her "Bravenak" and not her real name, considering that he/she probably addressed the envelope with it.

[Zorra]

22. Things like this should go directly to the admins, instead of being publicly posted,

where these things can be interpreted as being used as a dirty trick propaganda device used to smear an entire group of people.

Anyone can scan anything, even something, they themselves wrote, and post it here, and say "hey everyone, look at this!", and use it to smear a person, or an entire group of people, if they wish to do so..

[sabrina 1]

30. They should go to the FBI if someone is looking people's personal addresses up and why not call her

by her real name if they went to the trouble to find out who she is and where she lives? If soemone did this, that is a crime, and has zero to do with Bernie or his supporters, it is a matter for the Poice, not the Bernie Group. What can anyone HERE do?

Send it to the cops, we all should know the name of this person.

[marym625]

5. Agree with everything you said.

I'm asking that the meta be kept to a minimum. I can't promise this won't be locked by another host. The two posts I have seen on this were locked, in here and the AA group.

Have to work. Just wanted to get that out there

[aikoaiko]

26. Thank you.

[sabrina 1]

33. It should be locked. This has zero to do with this group. IF someone did this, it is a crime and

the Bernie Group can do nothing about CRIME.

Were the cops contacted? If someone is roaming around DU finding out where people live, I WANT TO KNOW who they are. But we are not the cops, so I don't know why it is posted here.

[libodem]

6. I can not abide by any such behavior

Boy, does that appear to give Bernie supporters a big black eye. I hate to think this really happened.

Denial is the first phase of acceptance.

It doesn't seem real....

[HooptieWagon]

8. That's a really shitty thing to do.

And the person who sent it has some serious issues. However, I can't accept at face value that it came from a Bernie supporter. There is also the possibility of it coming from a "backwards B" person. Whomever sent it, I hope is ID'd and serves a very long suspension.

[smokey nj]

9. Not suspended - banned forever.

[SoapBox]

10. I have been scratching my head over this...

How did the sender get a snail mail address? I've never given mine out to anyone here nor my last name...even to those that I would absolutely trust, since I've never had a need. Why did they share a home address?

Was it addressed as "Bravenak" or their real name?

And where indeed is the envelope? Why hasn't that been posted as well?

Just questions that came to my mind when this all unfolded.

[mak3cats]

13. This thread includes all the sordid details (it is now locked)...

...including a photo of the envelope it came in.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1187&pid=24424

[aikoaiko]

18. I think that thread shows many things including some are happy to believe it was a Sanders supporter

Which is a good reason for us to denounce the letter and it's contents, and be prepared to not let others goad us into ugliness.

[SoapBox]

23. Doh!

When you said locked...I was thinking that it was going to be THIS thread.

[mak3cats]

12. This is despicable behavior...

...and so is (to a MUCH LESSER extent) using this incident to trash all Bernie supporters.

No further comment.

[aikoaiko]

20. I've used that same word, despicable, in other threads. Agreed.

[MuseRider]

17. It could be

and then again it may not be a Sanders supporter. We supporters would sure like it to not be. Most of us and likely none of us would do anything like this but we will take the heat for it. I have to admit I was never very proud how many of us handled the BLM posts. Whatever, the behavior of some always reflects back on the entire group, my bad behavior included. I think I will check myself more than ever to not sound like someone who does not want to hear the concerns of others. If it is against Bernie we can learn from it. This DU episode from those days until this have been entirely too disturbing. I would rather tolerate all the other supporters with the pretentious head pats (oh look how they hope poor things) than see racial bigotry or even people just not willing to listen.

I hope that bravenak and others who have been alert stalked are allowed back in quickly and for bravenak I hope they find whoever did this and give her peace.

[arcane1]

19. I hereby call out bullshit behavior n/t

[aikoaiko]

24. Hear! Hear!

[Jack Rabbit]

25. I'm really at a loss for words over this

"Creepy" is a word that has been used several times by others, and it's a good word for this. Consider that somebody took the time and effort to find Bravenak's personal information (which is creepy in itself) and send an anonymous letter threatening more-or-less a user imposed ban on her. While I can think of more serious things to threaten, it is still not what this website is about and we should all be united in denouncing this incident.

[SoapBox]

27. Very scary.

No one here should ever be threatened like this.

It seems that those that are in touch with her, are giving and urging her to pursue this matter with police and authorities, as it should be.

I couldn't think how the sender would have known where she lived...did she give her address to someone? BUT there is indication that she has a Facebook page and had mentioned/posted such here...probably a good source of too much personal information for many (just this week read an article of things to NEVER place on FB, including a phone number and address)...FYI, I don't belong).

All that said...it's just wrong.

Additional disturbing to me is the rabid assumption that it's some loon Bernie supporter and that makes all of us bad people. I've read vile comments about us, having just done 2 juries where posters continue to make their over the top posts, with something Bernie/supporters thrown in...it really needs to stop. I have lost all respect for a number of long term posters over their nastiness and negativity.

[HooptieWagon]

31. Of course the mean Bernie supporters will be blamed.

That would appear to be the intent of the letter, by whomever sent it.

[aikoaiko]

32. Yes, I agree with much of what you said.

While I think it is important for us to denounce the sending of this letter to Bravenak, we do not have to tolerate true ugliness directed at us either. That is what the jury system is for.

[TM99]

34. This is meta.

If it is real, then Admin simply needs to get involved.

If this is a DU member, the FBI needs contacting and their posting privileges revoked.

If this is not real, it is a vile attack on Sander's supporters.

I am going to lock this as inappropriate for this forum.