vigilance committee

American  

noun

1. an unauthorized committee of citizens organized for the maintenance of order and the summary punishment of crime in the absence of regular or efficient courts.

2. History/Historical. (in the South) an organization of citizens using extralegal means to control or intimidate Black people and abolitionists and, during the Civil War, to suppress Union loyalists.

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vigilance committee British  

noun

1. (in the US) a self-appointed body of citizens organized to maintain order, punish crime, etc, where an efficient system of courts does not exist

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Etymology

Origin of vigilance committee

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

When they learned that the loggers had finally arrived, members of Sawawo's vigilance committee traveled up the Amônia in their boats.

From Scientific American • May 23, 2022

There, Johnston’s vigilance committee helped them journey on to Canada, where their freedom was assured.

From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2014

Shortly before the turn of the century, cadets set up their own vigilance committee and conducted covert "trials" of those who breached the code.

From Time Magazine Archive

Citizens of Memphis formed a "vigilance committee" of 100.

From Time Magazine Archive

In fact, that seemed to have been the entire business which had come to a head when the vigilance committee followed him to Mr Coldfield’s gate that day two months before.

From "Absalom, Absalom!" by William Faulkner