#BernieLostMe Hashtag Trends After Supporters’ Nevada Violence And Death Threats — Is The Bernie Sanders’ Campaign Feeling The Burn?


This past weekend, the Nevada Democratic Party’s state convention erupted into chaos and violence after supporters of Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders started an actual fight with party officials after a series of vulgar behavior. By Wednesday, it seemed as if Bernie was the one feeling the repercussions of the boos, chair throwing, and death threats as the hashtag #BernieLostMe began trending on social media.

The violence which the supporters of Bernie Sanders displayed at the Nevada political event started as boos and obscenities being shouted, as California Senator Barbara Boxer tried to call for unity of the party and in a later statement said that the harsh words and aggressive behavior, while not exactly making her feel “threatened,” did actually have her fearing for her safety. Indeed the meeting came to an abrupt end because of the supporters’ actions put in place by state party chair Roberta Lange, who fled the convention stage with a chorus of boos trailing her from Bernie’s camp.

In the news coverage of the events, Time‘s reporter, Sally Kohn, spoke of how she was “feeling the Bern,” but those flames are dying out. Lange’s mistake with the Sanders supporters was refusing to change the rules to accommodate them after 64 of Sanders’ delegates were ruled ineligible. Many persons using the #BernieLostMe hashtag used it to highlight what they say is continuous sexist behavior by Sanders supporters, and of how his tactics are now more an attack on Hillary Clinton.

The burn that the social media hashtag #BernieLostMe is creating has also expanded to Bernie Sanders’ claims that he was a part of historical movements for equality of the races. While some Twitter users were attempting to hijack #BernieLostMe, and instead highlight Bernie’s contributions, there were others who had more than enough ammunition to combat even these attempts. Some are also questioning the manner with which he claims he aided these movements, stating that it would seem he wants applause for being on the “right side of history.”

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The “Nevada Dustup,” as the mainstream media is calling the altercations from the weekend, are definitely seeming to be affecting Bernie Sanders’ support, and many are arguing that his refusal to denounce the violent actions of his supporters is leading the #BernieLostMe charge.

The fact is, Sanders did speak out against them, it just seemed to lack enough passion and conviction for most.

“Within the last few days there have been a number of criticisms made against my campaign organization. Party leaders in Nevada, for example, claim that the Sanders campaign has a ‘penchant for violence.’ That is nonsense. Our campaign has held giant rallies all across this country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been zero reports of violence. Our campaign of course believes in non-violent change and it goes without saying that I condemn any and all forms of violence, including the personal harassment of individuals.”

These words though ring a little hollow considering just how far the violence from Nevada went. He has issued stronger statements in the past, outright stating that “anybody who is supporting me that is doing the sexist things is — we don’t want them. I don’t want them. That is not what this campaign is about.” The recent statement seemed more intent on disabusing the people of the very notion that his supporters were violent to begin with, and lacked any true denouncement of their actions.

As Vox pointed out, Sanders’ supporters actually posted the personal information — cellphone number and home address included — of the Democratic State party chair online, and Lange has been receiving angry voicemails, text messages, and death threats. One actually called for a public showing of her death.

“People like you should be hung in a public execution to show this world that we won’t stand for this sort of corruption.”

Sanders’ supporters seemed to have turned their anger inwards and are intent on supporting him to the detriment of the Democratic Party, and is reminding many of another candidate who is constantly under fire.

The distinction has been made that Sanders’ has a league of supporters who are not necessarily with him for his ideas, but because they are against Clinton, and may have little actual control over their actions, but, his silence still speaks volumes.

A rising number of media houses and political writers seem to be joining the #BernieLostMe camp and even though some of the supporters are speaking out about the reasons behind their attack, and even apologizing, it may just be too little, too late.

[Photo Courtesy of Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images]

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