Woman Uses Pepper Spray to Take a Stand against Domestic Violence

Early in December in London, England a candle light vigil was held to remember those women who have died due to acts of violence.

The Ritual of Remembrance was held at Brescia University College on the 20th anniversary of the Montreal massacre of 14 female students who were killed at the Ecole Polytechnique and was meant to renew the resolve to end violence against women.

Candles were burned in honor of loved ones who had died, roses were laid on the ground or on empty chairs to signify those lost and at one point 200 people wailed in unison to represent the lives lost to violence.

One woman who attended the ceremony recounted an incident that had occurred just three days prior to the candle light vigil. She had been delivering an item to the mail room of an apartment building when a middle aged woman approached her. The woman was obviously very recently battered and had bruises and other injuries on her face.

Within a few moments, the battered woman’s abuser appeared. The first woman pulled out her pepper spray to defend the battered woman and the abuser left, sufficiently intimidated by simply the sight of the pepper spray.

The woman gave the battered woman a hug as the battered woman said that she didn’t want the abuser to be arrested as he was on probation and he hadn’t hit her for a while. At the candle light vigil the brave defender said, “In my heart, I want to help all who live in fear.” Clearly, when push comes to shove this woman will do just that.