Legal Definitions - oppressor

An oppressor, in a legal sense, refers to a public official who improperly uses their position or apparent authority to unlawfully or wrongfully cause harm to an individual. This involves an abuse of the power and trust associated with their public office.

Here are some examples to illustrate this concept:

• Example 1: Excessive Force by Law Enforcement

  Imagine a police officer, while on duty and in uniform, detains a citizen for a minor infraction. During the detention, without any threat or resistance from the citizen, the officer uses unnecessary physical force, resulting in the citizen sustaining injuries. Here, the police officer is a public official exercising power "under color of authority" (their uniform, badge, and official capacity). By using excessive and unjustified force, they are acting unlawfully and causing harm, thereby acting as an oppressor.

• Example 2: Unjustified Permit Denial

  Consider a local government building inspector who, out of personal animosity or a desire for a bribe, repeatedly and without legitimate cause denies a small business owner the necessary permits to open their new establishment. This causes significant financial losses and delays for the business. The building inspector is a public official who holds the authority to approve or deny permits. By wrongfully and unlawfully withholding these permits, they are abusing their power "under color of authority" to cause harm to the business owner, fitting the definition of an oppressor.