Abuse is still abuse when it happens in public
Today, I was walking down Victoria street, and a man and a woman were having an argument.
He was riled up, she was looking scared.
As I walked past, she turned to leave, and he grabbed her arm (hard enough to clearly hurt) to stop her.
I walked past another few meters before it even registered; then I turned and came back.
"She doesn't look like she wants your hands on her", I told him. It was scary.
The only thing I knew about this guy is that he was willing to get violent in the street.
But this is important.
"This isn't your business. Please go.", he asked me, firmly.
When I didn't move, he started repeating himself, more loudly.
I asked her if she was alright; she looked away at first.
I told the man I wasn't going anywhere until she said she was OK. After looking conflicted for a few seconds, she asked me to go, and I left.
As I walked down the street, another woman approached me and thanked me for having said something.
I still feel very conflicted about leaving when I did; I suspect she asked me to leave because she was afraid of the man and didn't want me to rile him up.
I feel proud that I was able to take the risk and stand against domestic abuse.
Should I have done more?
He was riled up, she was looking scared.
As I walked past, she turned to leave, and he grabbed her arm (hard enough to clearly hurt) to stop her.
I walked past another few meters before it even registered; then I turned and came back.
"She doesn't look like she wants your hands on her", I told him. It was scary.
The only thing I knew about this guy is that he was willing to get violent in the street.
But this is important.
"This isn't your business. Please go.", he asked me, firmly.
When I didn't move, he started repeating himself, more loudly.
I asked her if she was alright; she looked away at first.
I told the man I wasn't going anywhere until she said she was OK. After looking conflicted for a few seconds, she asked me to go, and I left.
As I walked down the street, another woman approached me and thanked me for having said something.
I still feel very conflicted about leaving when I did; I suspect she asked me to leave because she was afraid of the man and didn't want me to rile him up.
I feel proud that I was able to take the risk and stand against domestic abuse.
Should I have done more?