Speak Softly and Carry a Big Teaspoon

[Trigger warning for attempted violence.]

These ladies are All In:

Five female students, including one who had recently completed a self-defense class, jumped to the aid of a fellow student, grabbing her knife-wielding attacker and holding him until police officers arrived at Husson University [in Bangor, Maine], officials said yesterday.

The student with newly acquired skills lunged for the hand holding a knife, while fellow students grabbed the man's other limbs and wrestled him to the ground, police said.

Officers responding to the report of a domestic fight at 7:40 a.m. arrived to find 45-year-old Horst Wolk of Bangor subdued on the pavement. A campus officer cuffed him, and city police hauled him away.

John Michaud, professor of legal studies, heard the commotion and saw a pile of people on the pavement, while more women stood by, ready to jump in.

"I was very impressed by the students," Michaud said. "How many times do you hear about people walking by incidents like this? These young ladies weren't going to walk past this incident." He said the young women disarmed the suspect and "had the situation well in hand."

The assailant has been charged with attempted murder and violating a protection order, among other charges.

How many times do you hear about people walking by incidents like this? Lots. Lots and lots and lots and lots.

And I also hear about people women who defend themselves being punished for it (see #4).

So the fact that these women jumped in, and the fact that they weren't assaulted for their efforts at the scene and aren't being punished after the fact, but being recognized as the heroes that they are, makes me very happy indeed.

[H/T to Shaker theZissilent. Related Reading: All In, Heroes, "No matter what the consequences were, we were going to do what was right.", Not My Problem, Five Good Samaritans Rescue Woman from Assault, Five Reasons Why "Teach Women Self-Defense" Isn't a Comprehensive Solution to Rape, "You Think That Was Assault?", Bullied to Death by Misogynists, LIRR Train Crew "All In" Against Rape, Richmond Rape Case: 911 Caller Was Another Teenage Girl, Victim Blaming-a-Go-Go, Today in Rape Culture.]