Slander is a crime, is it not? Defense from slander is typically, an apology, a retraction, cease and desist orders, fines, etc, -- and if the offender does not comply, the state uses force. It is not commonly called violence though.
But I am not condoning a hotheaded reaction, merely pointing out that one does not slander a whole village of people as idolaters, then runs under a skirt of some missionaries to complain.