On February 3, 2008 Jason Vassell was the target of a racist hate crime. Since then he has been further victimized by a racist prosecution. We, a coalition of community organizations, students and faculty, seek your support in challenging this racist prosecution.

VICTORY RALLY FOR JASON!

NEWS COVERAGE OF THE VICTORY RALLY:

Vassell Opens Up About Trial, Race and Future (CBS 3 Springfield)

Vassell, supporters celebrate dismissal (Daily Hampshire Gazette)

Jason Vassell probation ends after 2.5 years; supporters rally in Northampton (Springfield Republican)

Jason Vassell and his supporters celebrate (FOX 6/ABC 40)

We will post more as they come available through the internet.

Peace to all those who have fought for justice for jason and fought for Racial Justice and against the criminal injustice system! We are planning a community meeting to think and plan next steps. If you interested please email us at justiceforjason@gmail.com

Recently Published Op-Eds:

Julis Lester: The Long Reach of Racist Words

Andrew Berg: Prosecutions Handling of Vassell Case Racist

UMass Faculty: Open Letter (Article) & (Letter)

Hampshire Gazette: In Our Opinion

28 Month Saga Ends: Community Claims Tremendous Victory!

After 28 months of delays, waiting, and a vicious racist prosecution, Jason Vassell has reached an agreement for "pretrial probation." The agreement, in which Jason admits no wrongdoing or guilt, stipulates that following 2 more months of probation (for a total of 2 1/2 years of probation) Jason will be free; his record will be cleared, and all charges against him will be dropped. INDEED, THIS IS A TREMENDOUS VICTORY FOR JASON, HIS FAMILY, AND THE GREATER COMMUNITY! We must remember however that none of this would of ever happened had the so-called "justice" system taken the appropriate action to charge Jason’s racist attackers instead of Jason–the victim of a vicious and racist hate crime.

Nearly a hundred supporters packed the courthouse donning "Justice for Jason" T-Shirts. Following the hearing in which the resolution was announced, supporters marched through Northampton to the Media Education Foundation, where the Committee for Justice for Jason Vassell hosted a press conference in which committee member Jasmin Torrejon read a victory speech, and attorneys joined the committee and professor Michael Thelwell to answer questions from the public and the media.

"It goes without saying that today’s outcome is a major political victory for the residents of Hampshire and Franklin Counties. Today, we have forced our elected officials to recognize that they are indeed accountable to the people whom they serve. When people get together to fight for justice and mobilize to build power, our communities can win major victories against systems of inequality and oppression. The Committee for Justice for Jason and a massive network of supporters did not once step down throughout this entire miscarriage of justice. Indeed, the actions of this community prevented this unjust prosecution from going forward."

-Jasmin Torrejon

TO READ THE COMMITTEES FULL VICTORY SPEECH CLICK HERE!

We will post more information, New Coverage photos and videos as we can!

Peace and Respect

NEWS COVERAGE:

The Bill Dwight Show (Interview w/ Jason’s Attorney’s) (Two Parts)

WGGB/ABC40/FOX6: Front Page Coverage

ABC 40/FOX 6 News Coverage

UPDATED: UMass Daily Collegian

WWLP

Daily Hampshire Gazette

CBS3 Springfield