JUSTICE FOR JASON

Here is some more to ponder as people in Massachusetts gear up for a possible dust up with neo-Nazis over a planned conference in April (see our alert side bar), something that just might put that dust up in perspective. It involves a now former University of Massachusetts student of color named Jason Vassell and two white drunks who were not UMASS students and had no real business on the campus The drunks, Jonathan Bowes Jonathan Bosse were acting stupid and broke in Vassell’s dorm window, shouting racial slurs at him. Things escalated where they thought they could force their way into the dorm and assault Jason, breaking his nose. The end result: the two Jonathans got sliced up. Self defense, right? Try again. After the Jena 6, NJ 4 and John White cases, you know how this works. It’s more like Jason Vassell looking at 30 years for attempted murder. So let’s see: four cases in the past two years where people of color defended themselves against hatemongering assailants and ended up either facing or getting jail time for it. And you know where the right-wingers are on this, especially when we are talking about these Young Republican types on campus who want to make hay out out of the whole thing by being as offensive as they can get. At UMASS, that distinction goes to student Alana Goodman, who for the most part wrote the right-wing talking points for this issue in her editorial for the campus newspaper the Daily Collegian by giving them the “this is not a racial incident” routine, as well as paint Vassell as the aggressor by furthering a lie that he wore a ski mask and himself hurled racial slurs at Bowes and Bosse who somehow got into a dorm they had no business being in. We could go on, but there will be enough time for that. In the meantime, this is definitely something folks may want to get educated on – before Bill O’Reilly and the Fake News lot start trying to spin it away from the truth.

The Committee for Justice for Jason Vassell

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.

  It was disturbing enough that Jason Vassell was subjected to a severe physical attack and an assault on his spirit. What we have subsequently witnessed has been an even more shameful violation both of Jason’s rights and of the community’s values of justice and equality irrespective of race. We have watched the Northwestern District Attorney’s office march forward with no apparent regard for the potentially explosive racial implications of this case. The question here is one of justice and fairness; one of making a decision that is right. It is a question of justice for Jason and, equally important, of whether the interests and well being of the community are being served by this prosecution. It is not a question of whether criminal charges can be brought, but rather, whether they should be brought and against whom. It is a question of whether the interests of true justice and the well being of the community are being served by this prosecution.

  Faced with a case in which the violent and racist motivations of Jason’s white attackers were clear, the District Attorney has chosen to pursue excessive charges against a young black victim with no criminal record and an exemplary academic and personal reputation. Concurrently, the DA has also chosen to pursue minor charges against only one of his two white attackers. Both of whom have a reputation for racial bias and one of whom, John Bowes, has been previously arrested for racist violence. The District Attorney’s decision to prosecute a black man and slap the wrists of two white men is yet another example of the long history of racist prosecutions that plague our country’s legal legacy. Therefore, we stand as a community united for true justice, demanding that the District Attorney drop all charges against Jason Vassell.

A LOCAL INJUSTICE, A NATIONAL SHAME
A proposal for national solidarity and support

Brothers and Sisters:

On February 3, 2008 Jason Vassell, an African American student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, was the victim of a racist hate crime (see attached background sheet). 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.

Jason and his family are truly appreciative of the community support they have received thus far, as well as the national offers of alliance, as are we. More than four thousand people have signed petitions – thus far ignored.  We have attended every court date, staged rallies, marches, and vigils, and met with local officials.   Yet all of these efforts have been ignored by Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.

We had confidently hoped and expected that the fundamental decency and sense of fairness and justice of our liberal Northampton/Amherst community would prevail so that DA Scheibel would come to her senses and drop the charges. However, this has not happened.   Indeed a trial is scheduled for March and Jason still faces up to thirty years in prison.   It is now clear that national action is needed.

WE CALL ON YOU TO JOIN US in standing up for Jason Vassell by pursuing the folowing action steps:
1) Join the Coalition for Justice for Jason.  This is a simple and visible way of showing your support for Jason Vassell and your opposition to a criminal justice system which systematically discriminates against African-Americans.  You can join the coalition here.

2) Help mobilize for our upcoming actions and campaigns.
-Sign and Circulate the Petition

Encourage your friends and allies to sign the petition calling on DA Scheibel and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley for an outright dismissal of the charges against Jason.

We are hoping to secure 10,000 petition signatures by February 3rd.   So spread the word.   Post a link on your website to the online petition.   Download the petition from the website and pass it around at your meetings, performances, and demonstrations.      

-One Year Commemoration of the Attack on Jason

On February 3rd (the one-year anniversary), we are calling on folks from around the country to participate in a National Call-In Day to the office of Northwestern District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel.   Please pass the word on to your friends and allies. If groups from all around the country each convinced simply five to ten people to call-in on that day, Scheibel’s office would be receiving close to one call per minute.   Please consider pledging your organization to sign up 10 callers here.  

-On that same day (February 3rd), we will also be staging a local Demonstration at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to put pressure on the UMass administration to take a public stand in support of Jason. If you are in Massachusetts, or a neighboring state, we would welcome and be strengthened by your presence. Check it out here. Please let us know if you intend to rally with us on February 3rd.  

   
-National Day of Shame March 2nd

On March 2nd, we are organizing a National Day of Shame.   We are hoping for a massive demonstration in Northampton, as well as local actions across the country. If you are within driving distance, please consider organizing a bus/van/carload of folks to come to Northampton.   Folks from as far away as Atlanta will be marching with us on March 2nd.     If you are not within driving distance, please consider organizing a local action within your city/town.   These actions could take the form of rallies, marches, public forums, street theater, or whatever creative and vibrant ways of attracting public and media attention you can think of.
 
The success of these actions will only be possible if we have your help.  
Please discuss this proposal with your group and let us know if you are interested in helping to save Jason Vassell from an unjust trial and imprisonment and what events you can be involved with.

If you have any questions about the case, our organizing so far, or how you can get involved please do not hesitate to contact us and we will try to answer your questions.

The time frame for this is relatively limited and we would appreciate hearing from your group about what you are realistically able to do as soon as is practical. This will allow us to coordinate and publicize events. We will also provide as much support and materials to your group as we are able to.  

Yours in struggle,
Ethan Plofsky
Outreach Coordinator, The Committee for Justice for Jason Vassell
[email protected]
www.justiceforjason.org