We have a wood stove in our living room. It can get pretty hot, which is the intent. It heats the entire house in the winter time. When our children were little they had to be taught to stay away from the stove. Often they would listen. Sometimes telling them was not enough, they had to feel for themselves. Anyway, if you know the stove is hot, don’t touch it! If you have an idea there will be a problem, don’t go to that place! Try to avoid these places where a riot can erupt. Sometimes you can’t. For those times you cannot avoid a hot spot or you find yourself in a riot here are some tactics. These tactics will work if a brawl breaks out in a club or inside with a large group of people too.
Situational Awareness
Know where the heck you are! Know where the freeway is. Know where the nearest police precinct is. Understand how you can get out of where you are, in case it all goes backward.
Be aware of what is going on around you. Know where the police are. You should be one of the first persons to notice that someone threw a bottle.
Blend
I know this sounds a little crazy, but if you work downtown carry a pillow case in your bag or briefcase. If you find yourself in a mess, someone with a pillow case does not scream “the man” like a briefcase or even a purse. Change your image. Pull off that tie and untuck that shirt and take off that Rolex. Try to blend in. Grab a sign. Change your look and look like everyone else. You may want to keep a casual change of clothes in your desk or locker at work. Don’t forget details like shoes.
Most people are not interested in being violent. They may even help to find a way to exit the area. They may even want to come with you.
Don’t wear a mask, a bandana, or a hoodie. This will only identify you as a rioter to law enforcement. Rubber bullets hurt!
Move Away
Try to get to the edge of the room or area. When you see “daylight”, or a way out, don’t run to it. You could be mistaken for several things or even start to be chased. Move deliberately toward your exit. Try to move in the same direction as the crowd. Angle toward your exit. Put as much distance as you can between you and the rioters. Don’t think that once you get out of the main body that you’re safe. These things can shift and move.
As you’re moving to an exit stay out of the main body as much as possible. Stay out of sight if possible in doorways, behind obstacles, in the shadows.
As was mentioned above, move deliberately. Move quickly without drawing attention to yourself. Don’t waste any time.
As you're moving through the riot, you need to avoid eye contact at all costs. Stare at them for more than a second and they'll want to get to know you better and figure out if you're part of the "establishment".
It's just human nature to feel challenged when someone maintains eye contact, especially when they feel in charge and are looking for someone to hate right at that moment.
If they stop you, this doesn't mean you have to look away when they're screaming at you. You don't want to look scared and you don't want to appear cocky either. The rule of thumb is to look at them when you're talking and look away when you're not. The key is to look natural.
You're on their side. You agree with them. Don't fight unless you have no other choice. Don't join the fights either and don't get mad at what the protesters are doing or saying. I don't care if you agree with them or not, it's more important that you get to see your family again.
If you can see no way out and you happen to see an open door, go in. How do you know which door is open? You don't, you just have to try them one by one. You might be seconds away from that mob noticing you're trying to escape.
Be Careful With A Car
You know who doesn’t like to be ran over by a car? Everyone. Keep that in mind if you’re unfortunate enough to be stuck in a vehicle during a riot.
Driving toward a police line might prompt them to use force to make you stop. Rioters, on the other hand, can’t seem to tolerate upright cars. This is a judgement call. Don’t drive in a way that irks anyone, but be stern enough to let people know “I want to get out of here.”
In any case, the car isn’t worth your life. If you need to abandon it, do it without thinking twice.
Specific tips for women
Have clothing to change into that doesn't show any curves.
Don't just wear dress shoes to work -- have some good, dark colored running shoes handy.
Be ready to wash off your make-up (if any) in a hurry.
One danger with having long hair (specifically, women) is that an attacker can really inflict pain and control the direction of the conflict if he gets a firm hand full of hair and starts yanking you around by it. Keeping your hair up or (in the worst of riots) hiding somewhere and cutting off your long locks can greatly assist in you escaping danger. Plus, your hair will grow back. Better yet, pull your hair up into an old ball cap and have something to cinch it with so that it stays hidden in your cap.
Worst Case Scenario
A city-wide riot, as Los Angeles 1992, would be considered the worst case scenario. Faced with nowhere to run and uninhibited violence, no survival tip can prepare you. How you survive is up to your best judgement.
It’s not worth getting worked up about, though. Determine the most likely disaster to hit your area. Adjust survival plans accordingly. Chances are Mother Nature is a greater threat than a city-leveling riot.
A riot is a serious thing. People have been seriously hurt or killed during a riot. Take it seriously and do your best to avoid one.
My opinion is that the “Black Lives Matter” (BLM) started as a legitimate organization. The problem with protest is it doesn’t take much for it to turn into a mob and a riot. BLM should consider a different way of protesting because violence follows their movement like a plague. If BLM really believes in peace, they will get their movement under control.
Charlotte is a glaring example:
Thugs burned down a city because a black cop shot someone, yet meanwhile the mainstream media spun it, or at least tried, as "peaceful protest." There is just one problem: violent criminals looting, attacking bystanders, attacking journalists, setting fires, smashing up cars, smashing up businesses and shooting at each other is not a "peaceful protest."
What it looks like is an excuse, any excuse, to riot and pillage. If you live in a city, even if it’s not a large LA or NY type city, you are in danger of “protestors.” Be aware, be alert, and stay alive.
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
The above article was a 9/23/2016 post.
It still applies to today!
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