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In 1971, a police officer was killed in San Francisco and two years later, 13 “Black militants” were arrested in New Orleans; several of them were tortured in order to extract forced confessions. The torture methods included severe beatings while naked, electric shocks on the body (including genitals), waterboarding, boiling water soaked wool blankets placed on the body, urinating and defecating on the detainees, and more. Despite having obtained confessions from their victims, the prosecution had their case dismissed because of their misconduct and their victims were released. In 2005, Homeland Security provided the funding and demanded that this case be reopened and the individuals being charged have become known as the San Francisco 8 (www.freethesf8.org). They have spent the last three years defending themselves and developing a support base. They started in DC in December ’05 and will be back in December ’08. We welcome them and we call upon all peoples of conscience to come out and support them, encourage others to do the same, and take a position on political prisoners. These freedom fighters are being attacked in order to send a message to us all that any manifestations of self-determination will not be tolerated. We need to respond to this challenge resolutely and firmly.
This is a complete and utter injustice. I urge everyone to sign the open-letter to Free the San Fransisco 8! Political Prisoners, Racist Prosecutions and the Prison Industrial Complex that keeps black and latino men in captivity must be brought down.
Please see the following as another injustice that is currently happening in Massachusetts. If you have any thoughts, questions, or desires to help organize, in any part of the country, please contact:
justiceforjason@gmail.com
See: justiceforjason.org
On February 3, 2008 Jason Vassell was the victim of a racist hate crime. For nearly a year 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 vicious racist assault Jason, the victim of the attack, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon-two class A felonies. If convicted Jason could face a maximum 30 year prison sentence. One of the perpetrators, Jonathan Bowes, was only charged with 4 misdemeanors which carry a maximum 18 month sentence, and the other, Jonathan Bosse, was not charged at all.
In the 10 months since this hate crime occurred we have witnessed the continued brutal violation of the rights of one of our community members by District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel. As the Justice for Jason Committee, and in solidarity with the Western Mass. Community Coalition for Justice for Jason, the Concerned Faculty for Justice, and a growing list of Local, Regional and National Organizations, we hereby call for the dismissal of all charges against Jason.
It was disturbing enough that Jason Vassell faced a severe and racist physical and verbal attack on his body and spirit in our community. Yet, in the ensuing 10 months what we have witnessed has been an even more shameful violation of both Jason’s rights and the values of a community which stands for racial justice and equality. For these 10 months, we have watched as the Northwestern District Attorney’s office has marched forward with little regard for the racial implications of the case. The question at hand here is one of justice; one of equality; one of making a decision that is right. It is not a question of whether criminal charges can be brought, but rather, it is a question of whether they should be brought. It is a question of whether the well-being of the community and true justice is being served by this prosecution.
Faced with a case in which the motivations of Jason’s two White attackers were clearly racist and brutal, the District Attorney has CHOSEN to pursue charges against a young Black victim with no criminal record and an exemplary academic and community reputation. Concurrently, the DA has also CHOSEN to pursue only minor charges against one of his two white attackers, one of whom has a criminal record of racially motivated violence. We shouldn’t be surprised, however, by this decision to prosecute a black man and slap the wrists of two white men. It is yet another example of the long history of racist prosecutions that plague our country’s legal legacy. Thus, we stand here today as a community united for true justice. We stand here demanding that the District Attorney drop all charges against Jason Vassell.
We continue to organize calling on anyone throughout the nation who is committed to justice to join us in our fight. Plans are in the works for a one-year commemoration, national day of action on February 3rd, 2009. Please contact justiceforjason@gmail.com if you are interested in helping.
peace, strength and solidarity
-malcolm