Prevented a hate-crime (not heroically)

[OCGuy]

Let me start this with two things: I hate racists, and I also hate the wars that mentally damaged a generation of vets, and I hate how little help they either seek or get for mental conditions, particularly substance abuse and PTSD.



I started recording after the guy looked at me and said if I wasn't present, he would "smoke" or "take care of" of the clerk, I can't remember exactly which one, but I know what he meant. I am over 6ft tall and at least have the appearance that I would have been effective at intervening, so I took the man serious. His voice was calm because he was drunk, but his posture was aggressive.

The man walked out right after me and I stayed there with the scared-to-death clerk until police showed up, so it worked out. But should I have handled it any differently? I figured the moment I got involved, it would have a 0% chance of not ending up a physical altercation. This was about 2 hours ago.

First thing I catch him saying is "Do you have a family? Nobody is going to miss you"

Edit: Yes I stayed with the store clerk until police arrived, the guy was stalking the parking lot ready to come back

*Not safe for work, there is one F-bomb and some racial language*


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[Schmide]

Not bad. I don't know how I would handle it.

I've given up on social decorum for racists, probably get me killed one day.

 

[BoomerD]

You got lucky. If the guy was serious about “smoking the clerk,” adding you to the body count wouldn’t have been the slightest deterrent.

 

[purbeast0]

Not trying to be a dick or anything, but I'm not seeing how you prevented a hate crime. Do you just mean you 'prevented' it by being in the store? It seemed like you were trying to pretend nothing was happening though and ignoring everything about the altercation, asking to get your gas filled and leaving as soon as that transaction happens.

 

[randay]

hate crime not found. just your typical drunk person

 

[clamum]

I kinda agree with purbeast, after watching the video. Honestly without full context it's a little hard for me to completely understand everything.

Wouldn't surprise me if the guy wasn't a vet though, based on the babble he was saying. "Afghanistan, Pakistan..." dude it sounds like he doesn't know wtf he is talking about.

 

[Schmide]

I disagree with the two dissenters. There are many ways of preventing crimes. Actively observing is often enough. Escalation can be too much.