Retailers battening down stores across U.S., worried about Election Day violence
After being caught off guard during nationwide social unrest this summer and suffering millions in damages, retailers have spent months prepping for another possible bout of vandalism on Election Day. In one significant example, Walmart Inc., the nation’s largest retailer, this week pulled guns off its sales floor.
The industry is trying to avoid a repeat of scenes that played out across the country when protests following the police killing of George Floyd were accompanied by violence and property damage. In Los Angeles, there were burglaries at Gucci and Alexander McQueen. Looting also took place in Chicago and Manhattan, including at Macy’s Inc.’s massive midtown flagship.
While retailers have had the luxury of planning ahead for the election, there are still so many unknowns. There might not be a declared winner that night, which could lead to days of protests and skirmishes between opposing sides. Or maybe a victory by Joe Biden sparks celebrations that are countered by fans of President Donald Trump. A win by Trump, who trails in the polls and has low approval ratings in urban areas, would likely cause protests to be more intense, according to Matt Hinton, a partner at security consultant Control Risks.
“If Trump wins, our risk analysts, who look at this every single day, are expecting widespread mass anti-government demonstrations in every major city,” Hinton said. Sporadic protests could then break out through Inauguration Day in January, he added.
The cost to protect one store might reach $30,000, according to ServiceChannel. The list of preparations can include ordering plywood and barricades weeks in advance and upgrading security cameras. At some locations, guards might be posted around the clock. High-value items, like jewelry, are being moved to storage.
https://www.ibj.com/articles/retailers-battening-down-stores-across-u-s-worried-about-election-day-violence
= new reply since forum marked as read
social unrest?
I don't recall any such thing happening in my lifetime, do you? Election day and the days following are typically pretty calm. I mean, we did have the Women's marches last time ...
OTOH, it certainly benefits Trump and his narrative to have all these stores freaking out about hordes of Democrats descending and looting if Trump were to win.
And we know how corrupt the FBI leadership has become.
Your point and my point can be simultaneously true 
