Peaceful protests don’t always stay peaceful and that’s when civil unrest starts. A movement for social change can turn deadly in the blink of an eye, transforming peaceful communities into battlegrounds.
The unpredictable nature of civil unrest is exactly why you should avoid such situations. Or, if you get caught up in civil upheaval inadvertently, you need to keep a low profile by becoming almost invisible.
In this article, we will explore some practical tips and strategies for avoiding and surviving civil unrest. To deepen our understanding of how to survive civil unrest, we need to start by examining the different stages of social unrest.
Sociologists and cops identify distinct stages of civil unrest. All instances of Civil Unrest start quietly. This is the latent stage, where tension is simmering just beneath the surface. It may go unnoticed, but authorities and the citizenry know latent tension exists.
The next stage is known as the spark. It’s a specific incident that overturns the semblance of stability, and crowds take to the streets to voice their concerns. This attracts all types: those wishing for dialogue and peace, but also those agitating for violence, with a strong element of criminal opportunists who are there for the plunder, the looting.
Depending on how authorities and civil leaders manage the tensions, the unrest may de-escalate or escalate. Escalation will drive the unrest to what is called the crisis point. At this stage, lives and property are at serious risk.
Related: The Calm Before the Storm: What’s Coming Next?
The scale of the civil unrest can vary, it could be confined to a small geographic location or cover large swaths of land or large sections of cities. The crisis point could also last a few hours or be protracted over a period of days.
Understanding the causes, stages, and progression of civil unrest is an essential step toward staying alive if you get caught up in circumstances beyond your control. Each stage of civil unrest needs to be approached differently.
Latent Stage
Avoid areas where civil unrest may start. If you have to enter such areas, make sure you have a clear exit route that will enable you to escape before police or protestors cordon the area off.
Remember, main access routes will be closed first, so try to find back roads, service roads, or other routes that are normally not used.
When entering such areas, do not wear clothing that identifies you with the “enemy.”
The Spark
This is the event that sets the unrest in motion. When you are in an area where latent tensions are high, you must watch news outlets. X and other platforms usually carry the information before the official news outlets do.
Also, keep an eye and ear out for sirens, helicopters, gunshots, and loud crowds. Chanting and singing typically go hand in hand with protests. Crowds chanting can be heard from afar.
If you suspect that a spark has occurred and that the situation is turning violent, you need to act fast. The most dangerous places will be in front of a protesting crowd, caught up in a band of looters, or caught in the crossfire between protesters and authorities.
Greyman tactics need to be employed to avoid notice from either side. You don’t want protestors thinking you are part of the authorities, the class of individuals, or the system they are protesting against.
You also don’t want authorities to think that you are in any way part of the frontline protestors. Not only because you get shot but because drones or other cameras could identify you as a protestor, opening you up to prosecution at a later stage.
Crisis Point
This is the most dangerous phase of civil unrest. There are two distinct areas of danger. The first area is at the battle line, where protesters and authorities clash. The next is the inner landscape of the unrest or the place where the protestors rule.
Depending on what exactly is going on, this could be the most dangerous place to be.
In this lawless no-man land, you can find yourself at the mercy of a deranged mob, or if you are hiding out in the shadows, you can find yourself being hunted by criminal opportunists who seek the cover of chaos to perpetrate heinous crimes.
Disappearing
You need to stay calm, stay informed about what is going on, and stay out of trouble. No matter in which of these spheres of danger you find yourself, you need to try to disappear. Finding shelter where you can ride out the storm is one way of disappearing. You can also try to disappear into the crowd.
In the first instance, you need to get an undetectable hideout, where you can hide and stay unnoticed until it’s safe to move or remain hidden until you can try to get out.
Related: Places to Avoid: Where Looters Will Strike First When SHTF
In the second instance, disappearing into the crowd means you need to employ grey man tactics to remain unnoticed. You must do whatever you can to “DON’T STAND OUT.” You will need information on who and what is being targeted, but you should be able to figure that out quickly.
Suppose there is a possibility that you will be targeted. In that case, you need to eliminate any items that could distinguish you as part of the targeted class. Also, it would be good if you could fake some kind of alternative persona that is a member of a group sympathetic to the cause but not directly involved.
Different stages of civil unrest will pose different challenges. Knowing where in the conflict’s progression you are will help you make life-saving choices. The best advice would be to avoid these areas altogether, but you may end up in a pinch; I hope this article will help you escape.
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I did, but don’t anymore, reside in a large city where an event like this would take place… therefore I will not comment on this article…
We are in the late stages of street theater fearmongering by those liberals who want the election to go to Harris & Walz. Will we see George Floyd drug addict street riots after Tuesday?
Does the deep state want us in a civil war for total martial lawfare if Harris wins?
God help those who say they are undecided and the cheating illegal voters in those sanctuary states be taken off the voter rolls.
One thing about the electoral votes states have like the swing states. It should be revised so each of the 50 states have only one electoral vote so all states are in play.
You look at California it has 54 electoral votes and major cities have the major Demoncrap votes outnumbering the rural conservative voters.
48 of the 50 states have winner take alll electoral votes. Nebraska and Maine do not.
My vote hasn’t accounted for much for the 50 years. I still vote just to piss them off. Once in a while I get a reward.
Seems appropriate that articles such as this come out now. My opinion is that no matter who wins the election there will be unrest and riots. Be prepared out there, but it may be too late for some. Better late than never though.
It may or may not happen, if they do burn the buildings, time to put them down permanently then what happened in the Summer of love and George Floyd riots.
Rule #1: Keep your eyes UP.! Watch and be constantly aware.
Rule#2: Never look like an easy hit.
During the George Floyd fiasco, I ended up at a major intersection in town where a riot was starting up. I saw first hand that it wasn’t BLM who started it, it was a group of ANTIFA thugs. Many of us who were there squarely blame local law enforcement for letting things get out of hand. BLM was holding a sanctioned, peaceful protest a block away from the intersection, in a parking lot. As we were waiting for the green light, police cars suddenly rushed into the intersection, cutting traffic all four ways. Just as suddenly, a group of young, white males came rushing out if nowhere, pulling masks, emblazoned with their emblem, over their faces. Since I was the first car in my lane, I stepped out and asked a cop why we were being stopped and boxed in. He said for our protection. Other drivers also got out and demanded we be let go. Meanwhile, an ANTIFA thug started approaching my car, for some unknown reason. He had second thoughts; the drivers on either side of me, who happened to be African American, pulled out guns. I pulled mine out. We didn’t aim them at the punk, but raised them enough for the punk to see. The little punk started screaming at the cops about the guns. Idiot didn’t realize that he was in NC, where we’re allowed to open carry. Funny how the cops decided to finally let the traffic go. It had already backed up over half a mile in all directions. The cars in front of the parking lot were already getting caught up in the burgeoning riot. The punks made their way to the mall a couple of blocks down and tore it up. The Walmart the original protest took place in got destroyed. A separate riot tore up our downtown area.
I was glad to make it home unscathed. As soon as I got home, I hugged my pets, the. Set about doing a soft barricade of my home. I live in a small town just north of the one I was in when all hell started breaking loose. BLM held two protests over two weeks in our town. They were both peaceful, because the organizers and the police let it be known that if they even suspect someone is with ANTIFA, they would be dealt with.
The Daily Stormer instructed their readers to dress up as Antifascists and to “F things up”.
Ivan Hunter came up from Texas to burn down police stations in the name of Antifascists, all the while he was following the LITERAL. Fascist, Andrew Anglin.
Antifa isn’t even a group. It’s an ideology. Likely, the young white men that you saw, wearing ‘Antifa’ clothing was an OP- an intentional distraction and meant to raise the idea that BLM was a violent protest. The same thing happened in Portland, Oregon.
Well, we’ve had plenty of time to prep for the 6th…You don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict those disturbances. I think those will be annoying but not too dangerous unless you are in the thick of it. However, the closer we get to J6 again…that’s when things are going to start popping off.
Start your vacation prep now. This is going to be a Zombie Apocalypse where we are still expected to get our TPS reports in on time for the start of Q1.
Did you get the memo on the TPS report cover sheets? I’ll make sure you get another copy of that.
First thing is to seek shelter as far away from the activities as you can get, preferably at home.
Close all doors and windows, drawing the shades.
Turn off anything that makes sound. But you might want a TV on low volume with closed captioning.
Get guns ready and distributed in more than one area of the house.
Do not have all your family members in one room.
Make sure you have good flashlights just in case.
Watch out for light discipline…
Eat cold foods.
You don’t want to advertise anything to a violent mob.
Remember, COPS ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS. They are just as bad or WORSE than a mob.
I am doubtful anything original will crop up, regarding protests. Something starting up because of paid protagonists, more than likely. Unlikely it will amount to much.
In my opinion reflecting on my experiences.
I seen people in blue berets around the polling station but they were only selling girl scout cookies , no NATO soldiers
Girl Scouts are not the same scouts they were years ago! They’ve gone totally woke so I wouldn’t be surprised if their presence at your polling place could be considered a pretty sneaky form of electioneering.
When people mob freeways in protest you’re in their world. Be aware of boil over if possible. Harassment is bad to be caught in. Having to flee an area is tough. Escalating a situation puts you from frying pan into the flames. When targeted your choices will be made for you. Never give your position away. Face your reality don’t let fear control you. Take a deep breath, calm down, move forward in a relaxed manner. If you are alone, or with family and friends…be that person to instill confidence in others. The person who keeps their head when others lose theirs stands a better chance of successfully getting out of the worst situation. Rash decisions lead to harsher consequences.
Just a suggestion, but I don’t want to be anywhere near the capital. I can’t afford the statement.
I voted. I have values. I will wait to see what happens tomorrow.
we are all doomed…….
I would advise to stay home if possible until it blows over. Both right wing and left wing idiots will be out in force stirring up shit. And both groups will be armed. So hunker down and stay safe.