The shooting dead of Mark Duggan by police in Tottenham, while attempting to carry out an arrest, has drawn a cry for justice by some and has been the catalyst for mindless violence for others.
Forty-eight hours after the incident, 300 people gathered for a peaceful demonstration outside the Tottenham police station, after marching from Broadwater Farm estate. They were asking for justice for Mr. Duggan and his family, prompted by the perception that questions were seemingly not being answered by the authorities.
The peaceful demonstration turned violent. The ensuing night of riots also left people homeless, vehicles as charred wrecks, buildings gutted by fire and shops looted.
It took place in a part of London where resentment by some against the police had been building following the incident of which the circumstances may not be fully understood until an Independent Police Complaints Commission investigation is completed.
Was the cry for justice hijacked by those with a much more malevolent intent and what do we mean when we call for 'justice'?
Justice is the name given to the universal law or power which safeguards and maintains the natural rights of the individual against exploitation, abuse and disrespect.
Justice tells us to respect the individual’s rights and freedoms: when we are only concerned with our own rights and do not respect the others’ rights to personal expression and happiness, it is simply a matter of time before we also lose our own rights. Justice is naturally maintained when rights are balanced with responsibilities. Of course, both parties – here the police as well as protesters - have rights as well as responsibilities!
As we saw in Tottenham, violence destroys the sanctity of justice. Such justice with underlying motives of revenge, hatred or greed is a contradiction in terms. Sometimes uprisings against oppression escalate into unmitigated violence when the oppressed stand up against the oppressor but misuse their position and camouflage revenge by falsely calling it justice.
Man-made justice is destructive and preferential. True, natural justice, inherent as a principle of life, maintains peace and order. No one human being has the right to take justice into his own hands. Indeed, to join in or to be indifferent to whatever kind of violence is imposed on others robs us of our own dignity and rights.
True justice can only be maintained when everyone respects each other and cares for the rights and well-being of the individual and the collective. This is why the creation and maintenance of community is imperative. At the individual as well as the collective level, this requires attention, tolerance and acceptance, as well as acknowledgement of diversity, stepping outside of our personal mental box, and offering the hand of cooperation.
Justice is universal and absolute in its application. Perhaps now is the time to offer her our fullest support.
