C O R P O R AT E RISK SERVICES PHOTO CREDIT: JULIO CORTEZ / AP
Now,’ ‘Rally For the People’s Demands’ and ‘Yellow Vest Protest.’ Additionally, a continuation of frequent protest topics is expected to continue (i.e. Black Lives Matter and protesting police violence). Moreover, G4S notes that marches are being organized to celebrate Jan. 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which this year could face an elevated risk of counter-protests or white supremacist violence (although calls for this have not been specifically identified.)
Figure 17. Hostility Expressed Toward Law Enforcement (Pro-Trump Website)
Additional Factors Security risks will further be significantly impacted by a number of factors, which could escalate or mitigate the threat. These include: • Security Response and Posture • How Key Political Events Transpire, e.g. the Senate impeachment trial • Political Responses to Jan. 6 • Organizations’ Responses to Jan. 6 • Statements By Key Political Figures • Weather Conditions • Acts or Attempted Acts of Violence, including against a political figure, or civilians One aspect to consider in regard to the impact the security response could have is that the timeline for a planned act of violence could be accelerated if a potential attacker feels they are at risk of being caught or being investigated.
Any protests that relate to politics or race face a heightened risk of being met by counter-protests and therefore of violent confrontations. The likelihood of protest violence based on location has been discussed in greater length in the first and particularly the second part of this series (published Sept. 28 and Oct. 29, 2020.) The following should in no way serve as a comprehensive list of all planned protests, but rather represent protests that are being featured for their references to being armed, committing violence or are otherwise featured for their potential for political violence.
Jan. 17 – Jan. 20 It has been widely reported that from noon on Jan. 17 through Jan. 20 protests have been scheduled across all 50 state capitols and at the U.S. Capitol, as well as calls to “storm” government buildings across local, state, and federal levels (particularly if President Trump is removed from office.)
PLANNED EVENTS Aside from the protests outlined below, G4S has identified countless more being planned throughout the coming weeks, and particularly now through Jan. 20 across the U.S. These include protests in support of and many protesting against President Trump. Protest titles identified include ‘America First,’ ‘Accountability March,’ ‘Convict Trump,’ ‘Arrest Insurrectionists,’ ‘Stand By Trump,’ ‘Trump Out 12 U.S. Political Violence Risk Assessment
Figure 18. Call for Protest on Jan. 17 (8kun)
While several groups that G4S has reviewed are publically disavowing this event (even forming a widespread conspiracy theory that it is being organized by authorities or by media companies to trap them), this could be a case of intentional disinformation by groups, a lack of G4S Corporate Risk Services
