Surviving A Riot

It has been 58 years since the Harlem Riots of 1964, and things are still just as divided as it was back then. Riots have been around for years as a violent reaction to one group’s animosity towards another group of people for various reasons. It’s a form of civil disorder among disorganized groups of people displaying aggressive, chaotic behavior. The police arrested hundreds of people around the world each year for participating in some type of riot. Some people have even died in riots. Here are some tips to remember when your peaceful protest turns south quickly.

Go With The Flow

Riots can happen quickly. It takes one person’s bad temper within a group to set everyone off. Tensions are very high at a protest, particularly if motivated by a recent tragedy or event. If you are out and about and find yourself in the middle of one, follow the group. If they zag, then zag with them because if you zig, the herd will turn on you. Chant what they are chanting, even if you don’t agree with it. If in a group, lock your arms together so you don’t lose each other in the hysteria. Don’t take part in vandalism or looting though, use this as your chance to slip away from them. As the crowd thins, you’ll want to fall back to a safe area far away from the riot.

Head For The Sidelines

If you get swept up into a rioting group, try to stay on the fringes, or sides, of it. The center of the horde is the densest part. If you end up here and you fall, they could easily trample you to death. The sides are usually the thinnest, so you’ll be less at risk of being crushed by the mob or pushed down. Being on the sides also allows you to slip out unnoticed much easier than you could from the middle. The horde will most likely go where the majority is heading, so by pushing the group to the left, they’ll start heading that way, closing off your escape. If you do find yourself being pushed towards the middle, don’t push back. Start walking at an angle towards the other side, or back to the side where you were, whichever is easiest to get to.

Plead The Fifth

Riots can get crazy fast. More than likely, the cops will arrest everyone there to end it just as quickly as it started. The side of the road is the worst place to hold court, so as soon as you are arrested, hand over your ID, invoke the fifth, and ask for a lawyer. After that, say nothing. The cops want to get the situation under control before they do any investigation into what or who caused it. Kicking and screaming will just delay your release, and give you actual charges. Cops are going to want to do as little paperwork as possible, so they’ll want everyone to accept a plea deal to save time. If you weren’t actively taking part in any destruction, you’ll be released in a few hours, or sometimes days, but it’ll be worth it in the end. So Plead the Fifth, ask for a lawyer, and agree to nothing.

Stay Put

If inside a building at the time it breaks out, and if the building you are in isn’t under threat, stay put. You are better off inside than outside in the violent mob. Most, if not all, stores have a natural disaster plan in place, and a riot should be treated as such. If you are at home, lock all doors and windows. If you have the time, trash the front of your house to make it look like you were already looted to deter the rioters from invading your property. Turn off the lights, then head to the most interior room you have, possibly the seal-in room, to wait for the crowd to pass. Most riots only last an hour or two. If the riot is happening in a nearby town, stay informed about their movements to be ready should they shift towards you.

Traveling Abroad

Riots can break out anywhere, even while vacationing in other countries. Over recent years, civil unrest has broken out across Europe and Asia for various reasons. If you find yourself in a riot in a foreign country, follow the above tips. Unfortunately, pleading the fifth might not work but ask to call the American Embassy or the Consulate. Almost all foreign countries have at least one available to help Americans trapped in foreign countries and unable to return home. In a high-risk area, treat your passport like your ID, as this contains the identifying information a foreign police officer would need to validate your stay. Make sure your visa is up-to-date and current. If possible, carry it with your paperwork. The faster they can identify you as a tourist, the faster they’ll let you go.