MSA Intel Alert: Update on Nationwide Protests 11.12.20

Please be advised, lawful nationwide protests are planned to continue today and throughout the weekend, with a high probability of larger demonstrations to occur. The number of protests and the size of these demonstrations are expected to drastically increase over the next few days and especially on Saturday, November 14, with opposing demonstrations planned to occur in hundreds of cities nationwide, many of which are in regards to the recent results of the presidential election.  Hundreds of protests are expected to be held across the country, with thousands of people expected to partake in demonstrations in Washington, D.C. on Saturday.

Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies are reportedly warning officials of the increased chances of political violence amid ongoing election disputes. Authorities have warned that election disputes, ranging from voter intimidation to claims of fraud and demands of a recount, would further fuel civil unrest in the nation. While demonstrations have been mostly peaceful over the past week, the announcement of president-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the U.S. presidential election has led to additional protests, and calls for civil unrest and possible violence have flooded social media sites, as online platforms have been flooded with misinformation surrounding the election. Following the results of the election, protests were held across the country, and calls for civil unrest and possible violence had flooded social media. Intelligence officials highlight that far-right groups have begun to take similar actions they took in the summer to protest lockdown restrictions, assimilating on social media websites to coordinate plans of action and possible violence.

Recent protests across the U.S. have occasionally resulted in incidents of vandalism, arson, property destruction, vehicle-rammings, shootings, and clashes with police, which have occurred in major metropolitan areas, including, but not limited to: Baltimore, Chicago, New York City (NYC), Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Austin, Louisville, St. Louis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. Despite many states and cities expecting there to be some form of civil unrest, there have been no reports of any city declaring a curfew as of yet; however, the situation remains fluid and details are subject to change. The threat posed by outside or criminal actors taking advantage of the protest activity to advance their agenda remains high, and impromptu actions are possible. Federal law enforcement officials have advised state and local police, security agencies, and those participating in demonstrations, especially during the weekend, to report any suspicious activity or persons attempting to incite violence.

Below, please find an updated list of known upcoming protests that will be occurring in major cities across the U.S. and Canada between today, Thursday, November 12, and Monday, November 30. The number of protests and locations of these events are expected to continue to increase throughout the week and into the weekend.

MSA Intel will continue to monitor nationwide protest activity and provide relevant updates.