We live in a world with no shortage of contentious issues that could spark protests or even episodes of civil unrest like we saw on January 6th or with violent protests inspired by the death of George Floyd. In the run-up to the 2024 election, we will likely see an increase in protests around these and many other issues.
Pick the issue, any one of these has the potential to incite protests and even violent acts of civil unrest in the weeks and months ahead:
- The Israel-Hamas war
- Culture war issues (2nd Amendment, LGBTQ+, School Curriculum)
- Climate change
- The 2024 election
- The 2020 election
- The 2016 election
- Reaction to high-profile criminal/civil litigation and U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
The right of citizens to peacefully protest is a cornerstone of our constitutional democracy. We fully support that right. When protests lead to threats, violent activity, and criminal activity such as looting, property damage, and assault this is where the problem lies. Most protests are peaceful and lawful while a small minority can devolve into violence and civil unrest such as rioting, destruction of property, looting, and clashes with law enforcement.
Protests may be issue-specific or they may target an organization, especially those in business sectors associated with some of the contentious issues of the day such as energy, finance, and education. Organizations must also realize however that while they may not be specifically targeted by protests, protest activity targeting another entity near their facilities could pose a threat to employees, business continuity, and physical facilities. Organizations should plan accordingly.
Civil unrest and violence do not occur without some form of triggering event. This event could be political or a reaction to an event such as a natural disaster or a highly volatile social or cultural issue. Some episodes of civil unrest can be triggered by planned protests such as the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville VA in 2017 or could be reactive in nature such as the January 6th assault on the US Capitol or the George Floyd protests. The presence of counter-protesters with competing agendas will also increase the volatility of any protest.
The threat to organizations from protest activity or civil unrest is not exclusively a domestic problem. Organizations with operations and facilities overseas should be mindful of the conditions and environment in the countries where their facilities are located.
Contingency planning for the impact of protests and civil unrest should be conducted by organizations as part of a comprehensive All Hazard Assessment Program. Such planning is critical to ensure the safety of staff, protect property, and maintain operations.
Here are some best practices organizations should consider:
Risk Assessment and Planning
- Conduct Risk Assessments: Evaluate the potential for civil unrest based on historical data, current events, and local intelligence. Identify and assess potential vulnerabilities. Risk Assessments should try to answer the following questions:
- What is the potential target?
- Your organization?
- Nearby organization/facility
- What groups are active in your area and could present a threat?
- Develop a Comprehensive Plan: Create a detailed emergency response plan that includes protocols for anticipated scenarios (based on your Risk Assessment). This plan should address communication, physical security, evacuation, and continuity of operations. Remember your plans must be flexible, rarely does a crisis conform to a plan but planning provides us with a framework and the mental preparation to succeed. Planning allows us to critically analyze the situation, identify potential obstacles, and consider strategies to overcome them.
- Engage Stakeholders: Include key stakeholders in planning: local law enforcement, emergency services, employee advisory groups, labor organizations, and community leaders. Establish clear lines of communication.
Communication Strategies
- Plan for Clear and Transparent Communication: Develop reliable communication methods for informing employees and stakeholders during a crisis. Use multiple redundant platforms such as emails, texts, smartphone apps, and intranet.
- Train Employees: Regularly train employees on emergency procedures and communication protocols. Conduct drills to ensure everyone knows their role.
- Monitor Social Media and News: Continuously monitor social media and news outlets for real-time information. Use this intelligence to update plans and inform decisions. Remember triggers may not always be local events.
Physical Security Measures
- Secure Facilities: Consider physical security enhancements such as reinforced windows, security cameras, and access control systems. Ensure all entry points are secure. Remove vehicles parked for an unusual length of time, including at adjacent buildings;
- Enhance Physical Security Staffing: Consider employing professional security services to protect property and personnel. Ensure security teams are well-trained in handling protests.
- Train Staff: Train staff to report suspicious activity such as:
- Abandoned parcels, suitcases, backpacks and packages.
- Gatherings of unknown/unauthorized individuals near the facility.
- Acts of violence or destruction of property.
Employee Safety and Well-being
- Flexible Work Arrangements: Offer remote work options or flexible hours to reduce the number of employees in potentially affected areas.
- Establish Safe Areas: Provide secure areas within the facility for staff to shelter in place.
- Evacuation Plan and Rally Points: Designate external rally points to ensure staff accountability during an evacuation.
- Encountering Protesters: Instruct staff to avoid confrontations with protesters and pass by calmly and quickly if possible.
- Protect Identities: Discourage employees from wearing clothing bearing your company’s logo if your business is associated with industry sectors targeted by protestors. Remove ID badges upon leaving the facility.
- Provide Support Resources: Ensure employees have access to mental health support and other resources during times of stress.
The following are some recommended actions to take before, during, and after an act of civil unrest:
Before a Potential Act of Civil Unrest
- Meet with first responders before any emergency arises to share your emergency management resources and plans and understand how public safety entities will respond to emergencies.
- Regularly monitor public sources, such as social, local news, and national press, to capture information about potential protests that may target your specific organization.
- Establish or revise contingency plans to establish procedures for responding to civil unrest or incidents of protest. Train all staff on the details of these plans. Ask employees to confirm or update their contact information so they can be easily reached in the event of a crisis.
- Review and reinforce your physical security measures to ensure your facility and employees are protected from potential vandalism or violence.
During an Act of Civil Unrest
- Secure the facility and assess the risk to staff and the facility. Evacuate as needed or shelter in place if safe evacuation is not possible. Redirect incoming employees to safe alternate worksites.
- If unauthorized individuals gain entry, remain sheltered and do not confront them.
- Conduct ongoing monitoring of social media and news reporting to track the progress and volatility of the incident.
After an Act of Civil Unrest
- Implement your recovery plan to restore the facility and business line to full operational status.
- Maintain communication transparency with employees to update them on recovery efforts or changes in policy resulting from the after-action reporting.
- Conduct After-Action Reviews: After any incident, conduct a thorough review to identify what worked well and what needs improvement.
- We are living through an emotionally charged and volatile period in our history. The highly polarized nature of this environment has led to an increase in protests on a variety of issues. Organizations must be prepared to respond and recover from the challenges posed by the prospect of civil unrest to ensure the safety of staff and the continuity of operations. Implementing the recommendations outlined above will be a good start.
