“Thief! Thief!”
As a child, you dreaded hearing those words, especially in the stillness of the night. You often prayed that those screams would never emanate from within your home. The screams would wake the neighbourhood and some would bravely venture outside their homes in an effort to catch the thief or thieves.
The first time vigilante justice entered my consciousness, it evoked feelings of confusion and then relief. The man was a known thief and he was caught in the act. In my young mind, thieves were some of the worst people and stopping them meant that we would all be safer. My thinking was influenced by the way some of the adults talked about the incident. On one hand, there were those who felt sympathy for the dead man, but the majority said that he got what he deserved because he was a nuisance and had hurt many people.
Recently, two young men lost their lives and one man was seriously injured as a result of acts of vigilante justice.
In the case of Levi Alleyne, it was alleged that he snatched a phone, which resulted in him being beaten. He later died in the hospital. At least one relative swore that he was not a thief and that he was just on his way to visit his father at Paradise, on the East Coast of Demerara, and was taking a short cut through Enterprise when he was attacked.
The other fatality, Seon Clarke, on the other hand, was reported to have been one of two men who were acting suspiciously in a shop at Sarah Johanna, on the East Bank of Demerara. Police were alerted and the two escaped but later Clarke was shot and his friend beaten before they were handed over to the police at Pearl, East Bank Demerara.
There was also the case where two men allegedly attacked a North Ruimveldt resident, Roger Lovell, in his home and they were beaten after he managed to alert public-spirited citizens to what was happening. Both alleged robbers and Lovell were hospitalised following the incident.
When it comes to vigilante justice, my thoughts have evolved from when I was a child. There are several questions that run through my mind now when I become aware of such cases. Sometimes one thinks that there are those who would have gotten what they deserved, while at other times you wonder about their innocence or if the situation could not have been handled differently. One story that has remained with me even though it was not connected to robbery was that of the old woman who was said to be an ‘Ol Higue’ and who was beaten to death some years ago at Bare Root, on the East Coast of Demerara. I am not going to argue about whether Ol’ Higues are real or not, but I will always see her death as the result of a senseless act of violence.
Being the victim of a robbery is never an easy ordeal. The initial feelings of fear can leave the targeted feeling powerless and the anger leaves many people wishing the worst for the offenders. In those moments of anger and despair, I imagine many victims would carry out vigilante justice if they could get their hands on the culprits.
I understand both sides of the argument for and against vigilante justice. When a person would have worked hard for their money and possessions, it is difficult to tolerate those who are brazen enough to think that they can take them. And, in some cases, people are not only robbed but killed.
But then there are cases that leave more questions than answers. In the case of Levi Alleyne, he was accused of snatching a mobile phone, although there are many questions about what really occurred. And one has to wonder—is it fair to beat a person to death over a mobile phone? If he was guilty, couldn’t they simply have apprehended him and then handed him over to the police? The danger in vigilante justice lies in the fact that many times it spirals out of control. In many cases where suspected criminals are beaten, the violence can cease before it becomes fatal but sometimes you have to wonder if some people simply have sick fantasies about killing others and use vigilante justice as an excuse.
There is no excuse for turning to crime. There are many young men who turn to crime because they feel like they have no other options. Desperation leads them to hurting and taking from others.
Then there are some who simply choose a life of crime because they feel it is a quick way to earn a dollar. A few months ago I had an interesting experience when I visited a food joint. There were two young men and something wasn’t right in the way they looked at me. I felt I needed to be cautious, so I made sure I kept my eyes on them until they left. When they left, the young man working at the food joint revealed that they were his cousins and they were looking for their next target. According to him, they chose a life of crime. They lived by committing robberies and engaging in other illegal activities. He even said that if they died he had a shirt and pants ready to attend their funerals. I thought that was heartbreaking. I was thankful that they did not make any attempts on me, but how are people supposed to feel and behave when such individuals target them?
When it comes to vigilante justice, people will have to use their judgment in assessing the situations. It is unwise and reckless to beat someone to death simply because you suspect they might be a thief. It is also unwise and reckless when the suspected thief or thieves can be handed over to the police before serious harm or death, but vigilantes proceed to deal with it their way. However, what happens in cases when the bandits threaten the lives of people? In the case of Roger Lovell, he was targeted in his home. What if it had resulted in his death?
The root of the crime, which leads to cases of vigilante justice, is that people feel unsatisfied with their lives. We must keep reinforcing to our young men the importance of an education and skills training. Parents have the responsibility to do the best for their children and to instill in them the idea that crime is never the answer.
Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, people let their anger do the talking. But there must always be a voice or voices to say stop when the threat is under control and to call on the authorities to deal with the situation.
