WEST HARTFORD — The Connecticut NAACP wants a felony hate crime charge immediately filed against a white former college student accused of smearing body fluids on her black roommate’s belongings.
The march is being called Justice For Jazzy – Jazzy being the nickname of Chennel Rowe the University of Hartford student whose former roommate, Brianna Brochu, was charged on October 28 with misdemeanor criminal mischief and breach of peace. Police said last week they were seeking a hate crime charge, which has not been filed.
The NAACP is also asking the court to add the charge of second degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, a more serious charge.
Police said Brochu claimed in an Instagram post to have tampered with her roommate’s belongings, including putting her toothbrush “where the sun doesn’t shine” and rubbing used tampons on her backpack.
The NAACP has since put out a statement on this crime saying, “It was physical harm intended to intimidate and terrorize Chennel into feeling unwelcome in her own dorm room because of her race and the color of her skin….We call on the West Hartford Police Department to stand against hateful violence by immediately charging Brianna Brochu with a felony hate crime, which more accurately reflects the nature of Brochu’s brutal attacks.”
The rally kicks off at 5 p.m. at the West Hartford Police Department at 103 Raymond Road in West Hartford.
Hartford State’s Attorney Gail Hardy said investigators are still waiting to talk with Brochu’s roommate before deciding how to proceed.
