WHAT: Jason Vassell’s Pre-Trial Hearing
WHEN: Wednesday, December 31st, 2008
TIME: 9 AM
WHERE: Northampton Superior Court, 15 Gothic Street, Northampton, MA

Please join us on Wednesday Dec. 31st at 9AM  for what may be Jason’s FINAL pre-trial hearing. It has now been 10 months since Jason was a victim of a racist hate crime–and a racist prosecution. On Dec. 31st, Jason needs his supporters to continue to show their solidarity as he continues to endure such an agonizing experience. Your presence means more than you can imagine. Lets keep this pressure up and make sure the courts and the DA know that we are paying attention!

{ Background: On February 3, 2008 Jason Vassell was the victim 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 solidarity in challenging this racist prosecution.

Early on the morning of February 3, 2008, Jason, an African American student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was in his dormitory. Two intoxicated white men, Jonathan Bowes and Jonathan Bosse, approached Jason’s dormitory window repeatedly referring to him as a “nigger” and breaking in the window. They then forced their way into the dormitory lobby where they assaulted Jason, breaking his nose and giving him a concussion. Under this continuing assault Jason was forced to defend himself with a pocketknife, injuring his assailants.

As a result of defending himself against this unprovoked assault Jason, the victim of the  attack, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon. These charges carry a possible thirty year prison sentence. One of the perpetrators, Jonathan Bowes, was charged only with misdemeanors carrying a maximum eighteen month sentence. The other, Jonathan Bosse, was not charged at all.

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Justice for Jason Vigil

Tonight (February 27) at 6-7PM

Malcolm X Cultural Center
(Below Berkshire DC of Southwest UMass Amherst)

On Sunday, February 3, 2008, Jason Vassell, a twenty-three year old African American student at UMass, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with intent to murder and two counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. These charges stem from an altercation that Jason had with two white men, who were on campus for no legitimate purpose and provoked the confrontation by smashing Jason’s dorm window and repeatedly referring to him as a “nigger.” Although Jason never left the dormitory, he was the only one charged at first. While one of the perpetrators, John Bowes, was recently charged with two hate crimes and disorderly conduct, the other white man, Jonathan Bosse, has not been charged as of yet.

Following the Yuri Kochiyama film and discussion in the MX Cultural Center (4-6pm)

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