by Dr. David Sanders
The following quotes were said shortly after the shooting:
“She did not present an immediate physical threat to the officer who fired.”
“Nobody should be killed for exercising [their] constitutional right.”
“There was no reason for it.”
“She had every right to be there.”
“There must be justice.”
These quotes were made following the shooting death of Ashli Babbitt on January 6th, 2021. A number of these quotes were from President Trump.
Sculptors of “Lady Justice” are often commissioned to cover her face with a blindfold to emphasize that justice, if it is to be dispensed equitably, must be “blind.” If we are called upon to judge it must have but one standard. This is the interpretation of the commentators on the verse in Deuteronomy (16:20) regarding judges who are admonished to vigilantly pursue justice. The word justice is repeated in the verse— “Justice, Justice, shall you pursue” to emphasize that when there are comparable circumstances the same standard and sensibility of justice must be applied.
Justice must be dispensed blindly, but as purveyors and pursuers of justice we cannot turn a blind eye to those who double speak and try to pervert justice. It is our responsibility to pay heed to the parallels we notice and hold up a mirror to those who choose, whether through their words or actions, a double standard of justice.