08.11.08
Posted in Events at 10:53 am by Justice for Jason
We will be holding a SILENT VIGIL in support of Jason Vassell at John Bowes’ Pre-Trial Hearing Friday, August 15th at 9 am at the Hampshire District Court (205 State Street) in Belchertown MA.
WEAR YOUR ‘JUSTICE FOR JASON’ T-SHIRT over appropriate court attire. If you don’t have a t-shirt, we will provide you with one. No signs please.
CARPOOL FROM AMHERST: Meet at 8 am at the parking lot in downtown Amherst, across from Pasta y Basta and next to the Amherst Town Hall. If you are traveling to the courthouse on your own, please arrive promptly at 8:45 am. Please RSVP for the carpool and/or the courthouse vigil by emailing Dan at dkeefe@student.umass.edu.
John Bowes is one of the two non-student white men who attacked Jason Vassell in his dormitory on the morning of February 3rd, 2008. John Bowes and his co-conspirator John Bosse (who has yet to be charged at all) smashed Jason’s window, hurled racial epithets at Jason, and physically cornered and attacked Jason. While Jason is being charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (which potentially carries a 30-year prison term), John Bowes is merely being charged with a Civil Rights Violation: in other words, a slap on the wrist. The unseriousness with which John Bowes’ prosecutors are pursuing the case is further evidenced by their decision to drop the original charge of Assault and Battery, despite video documentation of Bowes’ physical assault of Jason. Bowes already has a prior arrest for a racially-motivated attack on his record.
Join us Friday August 15th in support for Jason. Help us maintain our vigilance and express our outrage in the face of this egregiously racist double standard. Supporters of Jason have mobilized for each of his pre-trial hearings with
resounding success. Over 150 supporters came out for Jason’s pre-trial hearing July 24th. We hope to bring out even more supporters for his next hearing September 8th. Maintaining a continued presence at the courthouse is extremely important to demonstrate community support; build momentum and strengthen community ties; and make it clear to the judges, the prosecution, and the DA that they are all accountable to their/our community. Please come and bring your friends.
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05.02.08
Posted in Events, Statements at 4:43 pm by Justice for Jason
Press Conference: Justice for Jason Vassell
Monday May 12, 2008, at 11 a.m.
Massachusetts Room, Mullins Center, UMass Amherst
Open to the Public
The press conference, featuring faculty and students, will raise awareness about the status of Jason Vassel’s case prior to Mr. Vassell upcoming pre-trial hearing (schedule for July 24, 2008).
Your presence and support is vital. We wish to show strong support for the campaign before the spring semester ends. We will also be taking this opportunity to deliver the petitions in support of Justice for Jason.
**If you have not yet signed the petition, please do so NOW***
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justiceforjason/
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04.14.08
Posted in Events at 7:31 pm by Justice for Jason
Tuesday, April 15, there is an arraignment for Mr. Jason Vassell, the victim of a racial hate crime at UMass Amherst - we NEED you to attend in support of Jason! There is a carpool leaving from the UMass Amherst Southwest Cafe *and* the Student Union at 1pm tomorrow. Please make time to attend, and to share this call for justice with allies:
At a recent pretrial hearing, the judge removed Jason’s ankle bracelet, while maintaining his curfew, drug and alcohol screenings, and they added a new order preventing him from trespassing on the UMass campus. On March 25th, a Grand Jury barely lessened the charges against Jason from two counts of attempted muder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. However, these charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon are a felony, which could mean 10 years in prison for the highly respected Mr.Vassell — which is absolutely unacceptable! One of the white male attackers still has had no charges brought against him, and no arrests have been made for either of the attackers, no bail has been posted. We are calling for justice. Our community needs to be ensured that the attackers that cast this bigotry and hatred on our community are being held responsible to the full extend of our judicial system.
We desperately need you to attend Jason’s arraignment tomorrow (Tuesday 4/15) at 2pm at Hampshire Superior Court (15 Gothic Street, Northampton MA). There is a carpool leaving from the UMass Amherst Southwest Cafe *and* the Student Union at 1pm.
We would also like to thank everyone for supporting Jason Vassell in these hard times. The support at the forum, vigil, rally and court dates has been phenomenal. This gives Mr.Vassell and his family so much hope for justice. If you have not already done so, please sign the petition calling for the excessive charges to be reconsidered: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justiceforjason/
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02.28.08
Posted in Events, Statements at 4:42 pm by Justice for Jason
JUSTICE for JASON RALLY
WED March 12th, 12-1pm
Student Union Steps at UMass Amherst
On Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, Jason Vassell, a twenty-three year old African American student at the University of Massachusetts, 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 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.
Rally Co-Sponsored by: Committee for Justice for Jason Vassell, UMass Amherst Student Government Association, ALANA (African,Latino,Asian, & Native American) Caucus, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc, Student Bridges & More. To be a co-sponsor email justiceforjason@gmail.com
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02.27.08
Posted in Events at 8:45 am by Jeff Napolitano
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)
Save the Date: Justice for Jason Rally on March 12th Location/Time TBA
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