A New Jersey School Board Member Reckons with 'Nipplegate' Scandal
When Danielle Bellomo first saw a text message that would forever alter her life, she was taken aback. The message read: "She can't die soon enough." The words, allegedly written by Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of another school board member, left her speechless. The message was part of a group chat titled "This B—- Needs to Die," which has been linked to online harassment and intimidation against Bellomo.
A Monmouth County judge recently extended a temporary protective order against Gandhi after reading aloud a series of text messages allegedly written by him. These messages included threats against Bellomo, as well as another school board member who had previously dropped out of the race. The messages also revealed that Gandhi and others in the group chat were allegedly planning to "watch" Bellomo die or have her die alone.
Bellomo, a mother of three and longtime community volunteer, was initially unaware of the severity of the threats. She ran for the school board to support curriculum transparency and parental rights, not to become a target. The discovery of these threatening messages changed everything inside her home. Her oldest son now sees her as a potential threat, and he's no longer able to attend school events without her husband checking first.
The online hostility in Bellomo's town isn't new, but she believes that this has crossed into something far more serious. She describes the group chat as "not just normal disagreement" but rather a coordinated effort to intimidate and silence her. The local police department referred the case to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which declined charges.
Bellomo says that the response from her own school district has been inadequate. Despite having policies in place to protect board members, the superintendent and other officials did nothing when she reported feeling unsafe. The district has since added safety protocols, but Bellomo wants more.
The case highlights the complexities of online harassment and its impact on individuals and communities. Bellomo hopes that her story will remind Americans that disagreement should never turn to calling for violence. "We should be able to debate," she says. "But it should never rise to the level of wanting to hurt someone."
Despite everything, Bellomo has no plans to quit the board. She believes in the mission and wants to continue advocating for curriculum transparency and parental rights. The district eventually implementing policies to protect her is what she hopes for.
The case raises questions about the role of local governments in protecting their citizens from online harassment. It also highlights the importance of community support and solidarity, as Bellomo's fellow board members stood up publicly for her safety.
When Danielle Bellomo first saw a text message that would forever alter her life, she was taken aback. The message read: "She can't die soon enough." The words, allegedly written by Mitesh Gandhi, the husband of another school board member, left her speechless. The message was part of a group chat titled "This B—- Needs to Die," which has been linked to online harassment and intimidation against Bellomo.
A Monmouth County judge recently extended a temporary protective order against Gandhi after reading aloud a series of text messages allegedly written by him. These messages included threats against Bellomo, as well as another school board member who had previously dropped out of the race. The messages also revealed that Gandhi and others in the group chat were allegedly planning to "watch" Bellomo die or have her die alone.
Bellomo, a mother of three and longtime community volunteer, was initially unaware of the severity of the threats. She ran for the school board to support curriculum transparency and parental rights, not to become a target. The discovery of these threatening messages changed everything inside her home. Her oldest son now sees her as a potential threat, and he's no longer able to attend school events without her husband checking first.
The online hostility in Bellomo's town isn't new, but she believes that this has crossed into something far more serious. She describes the group chat as "not just normal disagreement" but rather a coordinated effort to intimidate and silence her. The local police department referred the case to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, which declined charges.
Bellomo says that the response from her own school district has been inadequate. Despite having policies in place to protect board members, the superintendent and other officials did nothing when she reported feeling unsafe. The district has since added safety protocols, but Bellomo wants more.
The case highlights the complexities of online harassment and its impact on individuals and communities. Bellomo hopes that her story will remind Americans that disagreement should never turn to calling for violence. "We should be able to debate," she says. "But it should never rise to the level of wanting to hurt someone."
Despite everything, Bellomo has no plans to quit the board. She believes in the mission and wants to continue advocating for curriculum transparency and parental rights. The district eventually implementing policies to protect her is what she hopes for.
The case raises questions about the role of local governments in protecting their citizens from online harassment. It also highlights the importance of community support and solidarity, as Bellomo's fellow board members stood up publicly for her safety.