It sounds like you're saying what the guards did was just fine. As I recall, a jury did not agree and awarded Roberson monies, perhaps as a penalty for their lack of clairvoyance.
>The lynch mob...
I never thought of prison violence in those terms...
No, I was referring to actual lynch mobs. Strange fruit. Punishment imposed outside of (prior to) the protections (such as they are) provided by legal procedures.
You are correct, bad things happen in jail and prison, all the time. And sometimes the, er, recipient deserves it. Nobody mourned when that crazy cannibal (I forget his name, Dahmer?) was murdered in prison, for example.
But it's a bit discomfiting to hear those who one expects to lead with their heads (the conservative says: "I think that...") instead of their emotions (the liberal says: "I feel that...") do exactly the opposite.
I guess I didn't make my self clear, if the guards were involved in any way, either by direct action, or indirect action (indiference)then they were wrong, and as you state a jury awarded monies to MR. Roberson because of the actions/inaction of guards
But what you said is...Had the guards somehow recognized that a witchhunt was in progress they might not have allowed Roberson to be beaten up.
I could say, had the Wright bros. somehow recognized that airplanes would be used as weapons they might not have gone to Kitty Hawk.
But it's a bit discomfiting to hear those who one expects to lead with their heads (the conservative says: "I think that...") instead of their emotions (the liberal says: "I feel that...") do exactly the opposite.
I hope that wasn't directed at me, I think, no, I feel like I might cry, oh damn that Rush Limbaugh!