Looking for Justice

The American justice system is once again on trial before the nation and the world, as those who are in charge of rendering fairness to all through the system, has an opportunity to show it in the Ahmaud Arbery shooting incident. The confrontation started by a father-son team of some who have called them vigilantes for perceiving without evidence that Arbery had committed a crime, killed the young black man, and according to authorities claimed “self-defense”. What made this case so astounding was that the shooting took place way back in February, and now the rest of the nation just recently heard about it. People are pointing angry fingers at the police department, district attorneys and others for taking what seemed to be a “not interested” look at the shooting. Arbery’s death in a southern state by individuals who appeared to act recklessly and without arresting powers, and somehow escape any vigorous investigation by local authorities, may lead some to think a coverup may have happen. The idea that until recently, no charges had been filed against either of the individuals, was probably “understood” by the black community when it was revealed that the father was an ex-law enforcement officer. Where this investigation will lead, no one knows, but as of now both father and son have been charged. It is the justice system that is on trial now, as a community that has seen so many of its’ black sisters and brothers killed at the hands of those who seem to apply their sense of justice differently when the color of that person is not white.

This newspaper continues to give its support to the dedicated men/women who serve in law enforcement, as the black community also wants to continue to believe in equal treatment from the justice system. Nonetheless the history of the relationship of those whose color is black/brown and those who serve in the blue uniform, is not a matter of heresy of what’s been done, but the number of lives lost and the untold millions of dollars paid out, points to many things gone wrong. Even as the days go by, we will see how opposing sides will present their case. One side will portray the victim as being anything but “a law abiding” citizen. His character will be assaulted, as everything that he did will be examined from the time that he was born. However nothing that the opposition will say can justify Arbery’s life being taken away from him. That side will portray those charged as “outstanding” citizens, who were “only protecting” their neighborhood. They will also say that it was an “unfortunate tragedy” where the deceased “shouldn’t have resisted” the two men, that somehow, he is responsible for his own death. We have gone down this road many times before. The other side will only want justice to be served as a testament to equal treatment, no matter who is charged.

Yet Arbery isn’t the only one. There are others. There is the young EMT, Breonna Taylor, who was killed by Louisville, Kentucky police officers who stormed into her apartment while she was sleeping, allegedly looking for a drug suspect. Wrong apartment. She was shot eight times. A young black woman whose job it was to help save lives, dead. Who knows, had she lived, she might have had to use her skills to save, dare I say it, a police officer from injuries. People are wondering where is the justice. A nation that prides itself on a system of justice that they say is fair according to its laws, will one day be judged. No one should assume that every law written and applied by man is fair in the eyes of God, especially in a “God fearing” nation. But then unfair laws are in fact a sin against God because God is about righteousness. The scriptures teach us that those who do not dispense justice to the poor and needy in the same manner, will be judged. They do take an oath in the presence of God. No nation “owns” God, but one that sees its system of justice “as second to none”, perhaps should take another look at it. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.