Social Tensions Continue to Rise - Heres What To Do In Case of Civil Unrest or RiotingBy Anna Hunt The 2016 Presidential Election has created division and social tensions among the American people. This is compounded with already growing conflict throughout American communities due to the perceived lack of racial equality and a streak of police violence. It seems the fire is ready for the stoking. These days, its not hard to expect a seemingly harmless event, such as a peaceful protest or well-publicized trial, to turn into a riotor wide-spread civil unrest. Take a look at what happened when thousands of peaceful protesters at Occupy Oakland are infiltrated by a small group of violent hooligans. It is easy to blame an event, certain individuals, and even social tensions when a riot breaks out. But lets face it, many people in the United States seem fed up, angry or easily provoked. Any social leader or organization with an agenda can take advantage of this, especially if they understand mob mentality. They realize that when riled up, people will make rash decisions. They will go with the flow, even if violent, even if they dont really know why they are rioting. Then theres the allure of being able to loot and pillage during a riot with a certain degree of anonymity. This attracts certain types of people who will take advantage of a situation, caring littleif their actions create hostility among others. Herd mentality will once again come into play, as others start to engage in criminal activities and begin to feel that they are entitled toalso materially benefit from the situation. Law enforcement is also part of the equation. Numerous negative public encounters between the U.S. public and the police have placed law enforcement under much scrutiny. Some even question what side police officers are really on. Take the Standing Rock protests as an example. Militarized police in battle dress stormed peaceful protesters camps with LRAD sonic weapons, attack dogs, tear gas, tasers, and even live ammunition. The riot gear that is now the standard uniform when working duringdemonstrations and protests give the police a menacing and unapproachable appearance. This does not discourage violence and aggression. It almost makes it more likely to happen. Put individuals with agendas, criminal opportunists and militarized police in once place, and you have a recipe for violence. Respectable and non-violentpeople will want to continue participating in protests and organized events that might escalate tensions among groups of individuals. By all means, people should have the right to stand up for what they believe and make their voices heard. Yet, it is smart to be prepared if you happen to be attending an event that turns violent or areat the wrong place at the wrong time. So what can an innocent bystander do when caught up in a riot? If you are on the street where a riot has started: If the riot is outside your home, or moving towards it. If a riot escalates to wide-spread civil unrest. Feel free to share your ideas of what else you can do to keep yourself and your family safe in case of a riot or civil unrest. Like Offgrid Outpost on Facebook.Follow Offgrid Outpost on Twitter. Anna Hunt is co-owner ofOffgridOutpost.com, anonline storeoffering GMO-free healthystorable foodandemergency kits. She is also thestaff writer forWakingTimes.com.Anna is a certified Hatha yoga instructor and founder ofAtenas Yoga Center. She enjoys raising her children and being a voice for optimal human health and wellness. Visit heressential oils store here. VisitOffgrid Outpost on Facebook. This article (Social Tensions Continue to Rise Heres What To Do In Case of Civil Unrest or Rioting)was originally created and published byemergency foodsupplierOffgrid Outpostand is published here under aCreative Commonslicense with attribution to author Anna Hunt andOffgridOutpost.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution and this copyright statement. Please contact online@offgridoutpost.comfor more info. Image Credit: Glenn Halog/Flickr Creative Commons 2.0 License This is not a news story, but YOU, Anna Hunt, using a false narrative to peddle products so YOU can make money! You are a journalistic parasite. Im beginning to think all news on this deceptive ACTIVISTPOST website is paid content, reverse psychology and public attitude generating fake news. I think ACTIVISTPOST is B.S.ing us into thinking their purpose is what they state it is. The purpose of this place is advertising, not true journalism or even sensible OP-EDs from rational human souls. Thx for echoing my exact parallel concerns Pyracheers 