AMHERST, Mass.
Faculty and students at the University of Massachusetts are rallying around a Black biology student who is facing attempted murder charges after police say a White man taunted him with racial epithets, broke his nose and smashed his dormitory window.
About 200 people gathered on the steps of the student union Wednesday in support of Jason Vassell, 23, who authorities say stabbed two non-students after he was provoked into an argument at his dormitory around 5 a.m. on Feb. 3.
The two men, John Bowes, 20, of Hancock, N.H., and Jonathan Bosse, 19, of Milton, survived the stabbings and were not immediately charged in the fight — something supporters of Vassell note when they complain prosecutors were influenced by race in bringing the charges.
Vassell, who does not have a criminal or violent history, according to friends and faculty, was charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder and two counts of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Five days later, Bowes was summoned to court to face civil rights violations, as well as disorderly conduct and assault and battery charges. Bosse has not been charged.
“The behavior of the prosecutors would have been different if these two guys had been African-American,” said Michael Thelwell, an Afro-American studies professor at the flagship state university campus.
Assistant District Attorney Frank Flannery said the charges are brought “based on the evidence we have” and said he could not comment further on the pending case.
