I'd say that if it was me (and since I'm traveling to Manhattan to see my daughter next week, it might be) and lacking my CCW and my otherwise always-with-me Sig MK25 and the 18+1 mag, it might be considered the better part of valor. Now if somebody tries to lay a finger on my wife or daughter, that's a horse of a different.... ummm errr, color! Then it's all bets off. At that point it may require me to show that the pen can be mightier than the sword.
One man standing up and telling them to STFU might well have led the rest. You know what sheep people, especially liberals are.