+1 - my sentiments exactly skid. I would also like to know how I could have "helped." Use the exact same variables - I have a phone (with camera) and nothing else. No gun or other defense tool. Bear in mind the act of pulling out my phone elicited a response from the BG. Pray tell - I am curious!
You may wish to carry both a loud whistle and pepper spray. . . . though I don't remember if your employer has some policy against pepper spray. You might have had the whistle on a lamphere or whatever it is that goes around your neck . . . and then, when witnessing the violence, turn away slightly so as to obscure the view of the evil-doers of you and blow the whistle loudly before the evil-doer gets to making his threats against you.
There are whistles for sale from amazon that supposedly can be heard from quite a distance . . . and any other bystanders and/or police might come running or driving by when they hear the whistle.
Since I have been threatened repeatedly and have not taken the time and trouble to carry firearms . . . and since most of the threats and assaults against me were made while I was walking at Greenlake in minimal clothing and it might be counterproductive for me personally to carry a firearm in the circumstances in which some of the public has doubts about my mental stablity anyway, I do routinely carry pepper spray and I do at times while clothed wear an empty holster, but not carrying.
However, I can mention that there are times in which I am not very inclined to back down, flee or change my behavior as a result of being threatened . . .
What would I have done if a large black man who was engaging in violence or threats then began to threaten me for pulling out a cell phone and calling 911?
I don't know . . . but Martin Luther had a small section of his writings on the subject of why Christians should bear and use arms . . . and the reason he gave is that it is for the benefit of society . . .
Would I risk my life or well-being to make a call to 911 while witnessing violence? It is the kind of thing I might do, at least at times, knowing that I might help take out of circulation a guy bent on violence . . .
Where I am from, we will jump on a evil-doing shooter . . . and let God figure things out and straighten things out . . . At least some Christians believe that God has the will and power to make things up to those who suffer wrongly while doing good such as stopping a shooter or stopping an evil-doer engaged in violence . . .
Of course, there is the question of prudence, and I don't know all the answers and I don't even claim to know the answers for others . . . It is simply that, as a result of my spiritual background, beliefs and inclination, I'd put myself in front of some evil-doing shooters if it seemed as if good might result from it. . . and let God figure out how to straighten things out if I am dead before he might have been thinking otherwise.