SEPTEMBER, 2019 When a man was caught attempting to steal, an angry and unusually aggressive crowd quickly gathered around him. In an attempt to deliver street justice, they beat him, doused him with a flammable substance, and set him on fire. All of this happened in front of a police officer. Although he tried to de-escalate the situation at the scene, he was alone and was unable to stop the crowd. According to all available information, the thief succumbed to his injuries.
Although street justice may sometimes seem like the quickest and fairest solution, the opposite is true. Even the worst criminal has the right to a fair trial and punishment under the law. Anyone who participates in a lynching can commit a more serious crime than the person being lynched. Never participate in a lynching and always call the police to the scene.
