Walk Without Fear (1970)

[Music] [Music] you we are most honored to have as our speaker this evening our chief of police Tom Harris but before chief Harris takes the floor I'd like to say a few words we're all here tonight because we're concerned concerned that the crime rate in our community and in our nation during the past decade has outstripped the population growth 11 to one even as I stand speaking to you right now somewhere a home is being burglarized a purse is being snatched a woman is being mugged or attacked I have here a letter from a woman who wanted to be here with us tonight that she was afraid to walk in the streets after dark he didn't feel safe we'd all like to feel safe now homes on the street but we don't the ones who feel the most vulnerable among us or the women as for instance woman who wrote this letter our chief Harris has promised to talk to us tonight about protection against crime how we may walk in the streets without fear as it were chief Harris that letter our Chairman received a case in point my wife used to go out shopping late at night but now she's afraid to go out at night we used to have a social meeting and that every Thursday night but we had to give it up because our members were afraid to come chief Harris what's the police department doing about this yes what can be done so we won't feel so insecure ladies and gentlemen I share your concern everyone is a potential victim crime is an increasing problem but crime and the fear of crime are two separate problems your Police Department is doing a great deal about the former but you you must help us with the latter the police department is constantly improving and increasing our protection of the community so the utmost limits of our manpower and technology we're placing more patrols and alleys and back streets we're using civilians and clerical jobs to free more officers for patrol duty and we're working for improved street lighting an important area for community groups such as yours can be of great help there's good reason to be cautious but no one should be so frightened that the fear of crime throws the very quality of life the fear of walking in the street must not prevent people from enjoying their city it mustn't give them a fortress mentality more people on the streets the less the possibility of street crime the criminal looks for the lone pedestrian women are admittedly more vulnerable than men but they are by no means defenseless tonight we shall together examine some of the most important aspects of self-protection the first thing to remember is that crime prevention is the best defense the criminal who already has the intent to commit a crime but also be given the opportunity in order to carry it out we you must deny him that opportunity that's crime prevention in a nutshell a woman returning from a shopping trip her arms loaded is a favorite pray for the person at you a woman who carries her handbag carelessly is inviting trouble but she can prevent such an incident from happening she can deny the purse snatcher the obvious opportunity and avoid losing her belongings if she'll stuff her purse into the grocery bag out of sight don't try to fight a purse snatcher after all whatever is in your purse isn't worth the risk of personal injury and the thief is only interested in your valuables incidentally it's a good idea never to carry large amounts of cash or valuables and always know the descriptions of the articles in your handbag especially the credit card numbers if you are accosted by a purse snatcher remember his description and call the police at once a little forethought can save a woman's purse and there are many others such precautionary measures of course you have to use your own judgment as to the areas you must be in after dark but if you are alone its best and more prudent to avoid deserted or poorly lighted streets even if it means a detour for you stay near lighted area and avoid walking near bushes or other shadowy spots always walk closer to the street under the building be aware of doorways an alley if you hear footsteps behind you look around don't assume that every man walking behind you is following you but do be aware of it however what you see alarms you in any way look around for a store a gas station a hotel or a lighted house where you might run for help if necessary when you travel around the city at night alone wait for the bus in a well lighted bus stop even in cities with a subway system it's advisable for a woman alone after dark to take a bus the mud has a sort of built-in security at striver you have any reason to feel at all uneasy didn't near him when you're traveling alone notice if anyone is watching and lore seems to be following you always be aware of the other people around you and try to anticipate trouble it's all right to be suspicious until your suspicion is Olivia can you take a taxi to get home late and it's a good idea to do so if you can ask the driver to walk you to your door or at least wait until you're inside and make it a habit always have your keys ready in your hand so you don't have to stay any length of time outside the door looking for remember always be aware anticipating trouble is the safest and surest way of preventing it cheap hairs what about Karen some kind of weapon wouldn't that be a good idea no I don't think so most weapons whatever they may be are more dangerous to the woman carrying them than they are to her attacker hat pins & hammers do not offer protection to the average woman because most men are strong enough to disarm and use her own weapon against her prevention is still better than any weapon let's examine some more common sense precautions you can take if you live in an apartment house with a self service elevator never get into it when it's going down to the basement you don't know who may be down there don't get into the elevator with one unknown man alone and always stand near the control panel so you can prevent anyone from stopping the elevator and so you can ring for help if need be [Music] when you go to your apartment door always have your keys in your hand we should return to your home or your apartment and find the door unlocked or open do not enter don't risk surprising a house break and go to the manager or a neighbor and call the police at once if you have a job which gives you working late you park your car in an unattended lot sure it's always locked not only to prevent theft but also to prevent someone from hiding in the back seat [Music] [Music] take a look in back before you get in and have your key ready in your head [Music] lock the doors and eat the windows rolled up there's always at least one unlocked car in any life keep your gas tank well filled they don't stall in a strange plate if you do have a mechanical breakdown try to park under a light stay in your car with the hood up or a handkerchief tied to the antenna keep the windows closed and the doors locked and wait until the police arrive if you talk two passes by offering assistance roll down the window only enough to be heard these are some of the basic crime prevention measures you should take the overwhelming number of women who get into trouble do so because they ignored these basic precautions you'll undoubtedly be able to think of many more because after all you are women consider it a test of your imagination to do so if if unlikely though it may be you should be attacked by a man you can fight back effectively and escape in most cases the attacker of a woman assumes his victim to be helpless pure shock and surprise if you do fight back is often enough to scare them off and that is your purpose just to scare them off so let's be rational about your chances of being attacked they are very slim of course it is possible and there are steps you can take if it should happen there are a few points at which a man is most vulnerable they're easy to remember visualize a chart of the human body the vulnerable areas are the either knows the throat the solar plexus the groin the single fingers the knees the shin bone and the toes and arch of the foot never forget there's only one situation in which a woman should fight an assailant and that is if he tries to do her bodily harm suppose a woman unwisely has chosen to walk alone through a park at the dark how can she defend herself using her knowledge of these vulnerable spots if she's attacked from behind well first of all scream scream as if your life depended on it but might ensue you can run let's examine step-by-step what you might do use the back of your head slam it into his face jab your elbow as hard as you can into a solar plexus if he puts his hand over your mouth fight him with all your might kick back on his shin and stomp with your heel on his instep hit him with your handbag in the face as forcefully as you can am I experience a woman's handbag usually contains enough miscellaneous items to make it a formidable weapon if your assailant attacks you from the front there's a whole new set of defense actions you can use first of all again scream being face to face with your attacker gives you an advantage many of his most vulnerable spots are within your reach stomping down hard on his instep with your heel may give you a little room use your nails scratch his face his eyes again drive your knee into his groin it's extremely painful and will incapacitate him if enough force is used hit him across the throat or across the nose on the bridge or just below or blow them equally painful and as soon as you can run so far you've been using what I call your empty handed weapons your nails your knee your heel there are some little items women carry in their handbags they can make effective weapon but only if you happen to have them in your hand don't go rummaging for them in your purse remember praying to break a wrist whole twist your arm against the thumb it's the weakest point and jerk away you're then free to use your weapon perhaps a bunch of keys go for the face rake them across your attackers eyes a coal might be useful a nail file a pencil hairspray or cologne squirt it in the eyes is effective and certain commercial spray devices have used correctly where it's legal and remember run as soon as you can if you're at home alone at night be sure all windows and doors are locked and keep your shades drawn some other common sense rules to remember don't ever open the door to a stranger man or woman no matter who it may be telegram can be slipped under the door deliveries can be left outside and you can offer to make call for anyone who asked to use your telephone in case of emergency when a repairman must be admitted always check his identification before letting him in but should you be confronted with an intruder scream the best weapon was the weapon in hand you think no one may have heard your screams right for window people will normally react to the sound of breaking glass full of by your streams when they might ignore the screams alone and yell help please leave no doubt that you're in trouble and remember too if you see it reporters if you witness a crime being committed call the police at once a simple call when you think someone may need help could save a life even if you're not sure call the police officers much preferred answer and needless call and not being cold in the real emergency as you can see you are far from helpless remember your attacker is only a human being he is weak spots and is vulnerable just as you are the actions I've advised you to use new your self-defense are not very pretty but neither is being attacked no action is to violence no move to excessive when it comes to protect yourself against an attack an attack that could otherwise result in your injury or death so should you ever be attacked scream scratch bite and kick your object is not to destroy the man but to gain time to get away as you can see the acts of self-defense are not difficult to master you need not become an expert in judo or karate taking up karate may do wonders for your figure but don't rely on it too much else for you I am purposely not advocating the to carry special weapons as I've said I think they're more dangerous to you than to your assailant besides being illegal such weapons can be too easily taken away from you and used against you use your imagination once again think of a few situations where your own weapon might be used against you used against you used against you judo anyone the basic protection of any community is a well-trained professional police department but the citizens do have a role in their own defense against crime remember crime prevention is the best defense of all I remember too that in any situation which you might find yourselves you are far from defenseless thank you [Applause] [Music]