Businesses and retailers across the country have begun boarding up their storefront windows and taking other security measures in anticipation of potential unrest on or around Election Day as many cities remain on edge following a summer of widespread riots and mayhem.
In Washington D.C., hair salons, restaurants, clothing stores, and banks just blocks away from the White House were covered in plywood Sunday, as business owners prepare for a possible repeat of the violent riots and looting seen over the summer in response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as well as the decision not to charge officers in connection to the death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Ky.
One photo showed the first and second-floor windows of one building boarded up and spray painted to include artwork in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Wells Fargo, Francesca's, CVS Pharmacy and Washington Sports Club were among some of the business with plywood protecting their windows.
AT&T and some other stores Sunday had signs posted to tell potential customers they were still open behind the wooden blockades.
In an email sent to students last week, George Washington University suggested stockpiling frozen meals, medication and other supplies before Nov. 3 to prepare “for the Election Day period as you would for a hurricane or a snowstorm that would prevent you from going outside for several days to grab food or order takeout,” according to USA Today.
A representative with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District told the Washingtonian that several prominent businesses plan to close on Election Day or for at least the entire week.
The downtown D.C. office for Fannie Mae, the federal mortgage loan company, will be close all of next week “out of an abundance of caution” of any election-related violence. Additionally, staff for the conservative advocacy group FreedomWorks will not be allowed to enter the office on election night.
DC Metro Police Chief Peter Newsham said Thursday there were no “credible threats right now of violence,” but said a number of groups had applied for permits to conduct large demonstrations and the entire police department would be working on Election Day.
In the nation's capital, dozens of overlapping law enforcement agencies control certain landmarks and public spaces.
Police officials have restricted which days officers can take off around the election and have spent tens of thousands of dollars on chemical irritants and other less-than-lethal riot-control munitions after much of the agency’s stockpile was depleted this summer.
Cities Across U.S. Preparing For Unrest After Presidential Election
Businesses across America are boarding up
While there have been 58 presidential elections, and power has either been peacefully transferred each time or the losing candidate has graciously conceded, Americans are deeply concerned about Election 2020.
According to the final Yahoo News/YouGov poll before Election Day, 51% of those surveyed expect President Donald Trump to refuse to concede if he loses the election, and 77% are concerned that violence will break out in the coming days.
“A study released in mid-October also warned that five states — Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Oregon — were at risk to experience increased militia activity ahead of the elections and afterward,” The Hill reported. “That report, which was released by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project and MilitiaWatch, also determined that North Carolina, Texas, Virginia, California and New Mexico were at moderate risk to see increased active militias during the same time period.”
In response, businesses in cities across the U.S. are taking precautions. And retailers are already on edge in cities like Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and Portland after rioters smashed windows, looted stores, and set some on fire.
“Also boarded up were chain stores such as Staples, Ann Taylor, and a Bed Bath & Beyond in Chelsea, as well as the iconic Macy’s flagship in Herald Square. High-end Manhattan retailers like Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Louis Vuitton, Bergdorf Goodman and Tourneau have also boarded up their storefronts,” the Post reported.
In the Big Apple, the Guardian Angels, a volunteer group that patrols communities to prevent crime, announced it will be out in force in the streets on Election Night to protect neighborhoods.
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