Second top official resigns from Bernie Sanders group

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

The tumult at Our Revolution continued raging with the resignation of another founding board member late Wednesday.

The decision by Catalina Velasquez, an undocumented immigrant and transgender activist who was co-vice chair of the Bernie Sanders-inspired organization, came during a week of reverberations in the wake of a POLITICO report detailing widespread problems within the group.

A number of people have complained about inattention by the group to Latino and immigrant issues. Others have cited open hostility by a woman whom Our Revolution President Nina Turner had tried to make her chief of staff.

“For the past month, we have been fighting divisive narratives targeting immigrants and pinning us against other oppressed peoples,” wrote Velasquez in a letter she posted on Twitter. “I have faced this with little to no support from the organizational leadership.”

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/24/our-revolution-bernie-sanders-staff-changes-607330

[Eliot Rosewater]

1. Gee, who coulda predicted this

A number of people have complained about inattention by the group to Latino and immigrant issues

[Fullduplexxx]

2. Yes bernie has always seemed to have a melanin issue

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Not to mention he doesn't run this organization and the tension seems to be...

.... between two factions in the group that have extra, as that other other poster put it, melanin.

I don’t know a lot about Our Revolution but the board seems pretty diverse. But those People of Color don’t count because... reasons.

And, yep, you hit the nail right on the head.

[George II]

9. Our Revolution was founded by Jane and Bernie Sanders, and most, if not all......

....members of the Board of Directors are ex-Sanders campaign members.

[ehrnst]

18. Well, he certainly had a hand in the group that quit at the start....

A principal concern among backers of Mr. Sanders, whose condemnation of the campaign finance system was a pillar of his presidential bid, is that the group can draw from the pool of “dark money” that Mr. Sanders condemned for lacking transparency.

The announcement of the group, which was live streamed on Wednesday night, also came as a majority of its staff resigned after the appointment last Monday of Jeff Weaver, Mr. Sanders’s former campaign manager, to lead the organization.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/25/us/politics/bernie-sanders-our-revolution-group.html

[Fullduplexxx]

7. Our party elected sanders and lieberman

And sanders couldnt draw the aa or latina / latino vote so yea bernie has a melanin issue.

[George II]

8. Are you implying that anyone who dares criticize Sanders is "anti-Semitic"? Where does this....

....notion of "anti-Semitism" come from in a discussion about Our Revolution not addressing Latino and immigrant issues?

[progree]

12. Yeah, I totally agree. Except that I would put it much more strongly than you did

Anyone who says critics of Bernie Sanders are anti-semitic, without presenting any evidence whatsover, are bigoted asswipes in my view. Literally.

And I say that as a long time and continuing enthusiastic supporter of Bernie Sanders. And I don't think anyone is more than sick and more than tired than me about the gratuitous attacks on Bernie. But it's politics. It isn't anti-semitism. And there aren't many people who more admire and are more grateful for the contributions of Jewish people more than I am.

And yes, I'm willing to take the hide. If you jurors are willing to hide a post calling out those who accuse Bernie opponents as being anti-semitics, then go ahead and hide it. Make my day. It will be overturned.

This post #3 (that George is replying to that accuses critics of Bernie as being anti-semitic) has been sticking in my craw all day. Again, I'm a staunch Bernie supporter, but I can't fucking believe, in fact I am totally outraged, that a post that accused Bernie opponents of anti-semitism has been allowed to stand. I'm just totally amazed.

And yes, alert on Post #3. I just did. But even if it fails, go ahead and alert. And alert again and again. The alerts get to the admins. And I will write them an email if I have to, if this obscenity of a post still stands.

[progree]

13. Calendar note made -- bug the adminstrators if post #3 is still around

Later - post #3 just disappeared. Hallelujah. There is still justice in this world

Stryst (635 posts)

3. It could be said that

some people have a Antisemitism issue.

There is a lot of hatred for Sanders that has no basis in reality, Sanders doesn't have a melanin issue, our party has an Antisemitism issue.

Well, it obviously hasn't totally disappeared. It's just above. Sorry. But like the Holocaust Museum, we don't think bigotry of any form should be white-washed away and forgotten.

[Cha]

14. That's there go to..

when facts are brought to our attention like this..

Second top official resigns from Bernie Sanders group

The decision by Catalina Velasquez, an undocumented immigrant and transgender activist who was co-vice chair of the Bernie Sanders-inspired organization, came during a week of reverberations in the wake of a POLITICO report detailing widespread problems within the group.

A number of people have complained about inattention by the group to Latino and immigrant issues. Others have cited open hostility by a woman whom Our Revolution President Nina Turner had tried to make her chief of staff.

[lunamagica]

5. What made Catalina Velasquez think Sanders cared about Latino and immigrant issues?

She was delusional if she thought he ever gave a hoot about those issues. But finally she saw the light. Better alter than never.

[Cha]

15. I know, right. Glad she

finally saw the light

Luna

[4now]

10. What a mess

I really expected they would do a better job

[Blue_Tires]

11. Not surprised

We knew that freakshow was never going to be ready for primetime and the wheels would be coming off soon after so many consecutive failures... But hey, at least their twitter games are strong

PROTIP: There's a BIG difference between making noise, raising hell, and playing underdog spoiler versus actually trying to *WIN* a fucking election... Two completely different animals...

[George II]

16. Here's a statement from Our Revolution's website:

"Former Senator Nina Turner Weighs in On Her Work at Our Revolution

WASHINGTON – Following media reports on personnel and leadership matters at Our Revolution, Senator Nina Turner, president of the organization, today released the following statement:

“As you may know, Politico published an article impugning my leadership and questioning the effectiveness of Our Revolution. While there were many false assertions surfaced in the article, I want to focus on a couple of particular points.

“First, the comments made by Tezlyn Figaro are not beliefs espoused by myself or Our Revolution. I understand that we all have room to grow and evolve, and while we encourage growth, I am committed to maintaining a work environment that is safe and supportive for all. Tezlyn has publicly apologized for her comments and while she is still part of our paid staff, the matter is under advisement by myself and the Our Revolution board of directors.

“Relatedly, this organization has a strong history of standing firmly with undocumented immigrants. We have not and will not abandon immigrant individuals and families, and I look forward to continuing working with our board of directors and staff to strengthen this work.

"Let me also share that I was sorry to see Erika Andiola's statement last night. I have the utmost respect for her commitment to immigrant justice, and I wish her the absolute best. Given the sensitivity of personnel matters, I am unable to comment further.

“Finally, the other allegations in the article (that our fundraising is down or that I am using my position to run for political office) are categorically false. For an organization that has existed for less than two years, we are doing impressively well. This is evidenced by our 45 percent electoral success rate and the incredible growth of local grassroots groups to almost 600 with several international groups. Like any new organization, we are learning and growing each day, but the best is yet to come.

“In conclusion, while the comments about me and my leadership are disappointing, I am focused on the task at hand – supporting progressive groups, issues, and candidates. Our Board of Directors and staff remain committed to moving the progressive revolution forward and transforming our nation’s political system. On the heels of critical midterm elections, we can’t afford to do anything less.”

[ehrnst]

17. Looks like there's still trouble in paradise...(nt)