The tragedy surrounding the killing of the police officers in The Gambia continues to stir emotions across the country. It should. These were sons, fathers, brothers, and public servants whose lives ended violently while serving their nation. Their families deserve truth, dignity, and closure. They deserve justice pursued calmly and responsibly through the courts of law.
This is why the reflection by Alagi Yorro Jallow on the danger of selective outrage deserves serious attention. His warning is not an attack on activism itself, but rather a reminder that activism must be grounded in principle, consistency, and moral courage. When outrage appears only when it is politically convenient, it stops being activism and begins to resemble opportunism.
Perhaps the saddest irony in today’s loud social media activism is that many of the loudest voices now presenting themselves as moral guardians of justice are closely linked to the very structures that sustained authoritarianism in the past. In many cases, their own parents were prominent figures within the APRC youth wing structures during the Jammeh era — structures widely known for intimidation, harassment, and unconstitutional political activities that undermined democratic freedoms.
Those same networks produced individuals who were later rewarded with powerful positions as regional governors, local government chairpersons, and influential political operatives. They were the machinery that helped entrench fear and silence dissent during some of the darkest moments in the country’s recent history.
History cannot simply be erased.
This does not mean that children must carry the guilt of their parents. Every generation has the right to choose its own path and define its own values. However, when individuals whose families once benefited from authoritarian power suddenly present themselves as uncompromising champions of justice without acknowledging that history, it raises legitimate questions about the sincerity of their outrage.
True moral authority is built on honesty and consistency. It requires acknowledging past injustices, not selectively remembering them.
The danger of selective activism is that it transforms national tragedies into political tools. Instead of seeking truth, it seeks advantage. Instead of encouraging reflection, it fuels division. And instead of honoring victims, it risks exploiting their suffering.
The killing of the police officers is not a political slogan. It is a human tragedy. The justice system has already begun its work: a trial was held, a verdict delivered, and an appeal process initiated. That is how the rule of law functions in any democratic society. Justice is not determined by social media campaigns or emotional pressure — it is determined by evidence, procedure, and the impartial judgment of the courts.
This is precisely why responsible voices must urge restraint. The families of the fallen officers should not be forced to watch their loved ones’ deaths turned into daily political theatre. They deserve space to grieve and confidence that the legal process will pursue the truth wherever it leads.
Alagi Yorro Jallow’s reminder is therefore deeply important: a nation that practices selective empathy risks losing its moral compass. If we cry loudly for some victims while ignoring others, we weaken the very foundation of justice we claim to defend.
The lesson for Gambians today is simple but profound. Activism must be principled, not performative. Justice must be patient, not rushed by public noise. And national tragedies must never be exploited for political gain.
To do so would not only betray the values of justice and accountability.
It would also dishonor the memory of the dead.
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