Violent political behavior is a particularly destructive and destabilizing form of political activity. Can political authorities discourage such behavior by exercising their authority in just ways? I examine the role of procedural justice in minimizing political violence within countries in Africa in which there are potentially destabilizing levels of political violence. The results of two studies suggest that procedural justice is important because it leads the government to be viewed as more legitimate. When the government is legitimate people are less likely to engage in violent actions to undermine or change it.