[rdtwo]

That may be true but you need to somehow be higher on the social ladder than the assailant. Good luck if you are getting harassed by police to get them to stop you need to have a direct line to the mayor or at least city council.

[tomrod]

Social "Ladder" is the wrong metaphor. We live in a mesh without a specifically defined ordering of nodes.

For example, going to the press is an option.

[rdtwo]

If you go to the press that might make the situation worse. The press no longer provide a significant check on other power structures in government