It’s been sad to see that the new year did not bring a stop, or even a slowdown, to the violence and uncertainty plaguing our streets. And it looks to continue this way for the foreseeable future.
An issue that seems to be resurfacing post-Covid is the likelihood of social unrest and street violence directed at urban commercial facilities stemming from police-involved shootings or incidents.
While it is not likely that we will return to the absolute mayhem we saw during the George Floyd protests, as things in the economy get worse, and partisanship stays at the level it is, it will not take much of a spark to trigger problems.
Two recent events illustrate this concern—not only for those of us at Brosnan Risk dealing with it every day but also for our partners in law enforcement across the U.S. These incidents took place in Memphis and Atlanta.
Possible violence from the police-involved incident in Memphis: The potential fallout from the tragic death of Tyre Nichols is expected to lead to uncertainty—not only in the near term but potentially for some time after. On January 7, five plainclothes officers with the Memphis Police Department were conducting a traffic stop of Nichols. At the time, Nichols fled the vehicle. The officers eventually apprehended and handcuffed him, but a physical altercation ensued. Tyre died three days later due to the injuries received while in custody.
An investigation of the incident immediately took place by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations. The findings were just released, and all of the officers involved were terminated for violating multiple department policies, which include excessive use of force, duty to intervene, and duty to render aid. The body camera footage was recently released to the public, and Tyre’s family and authorities have called for peaceful protests.
Atlanta protests: Another issue that has been festering for some time is the situation in Atlanta. Recent media reports have highlighted problems centering on the building of a proposed $90 million police training facility— known as “Cop City” by its opponents.
This has been going on for months, with protestors encamped around the facility—attacking contractors and construction workers. While authorities did not stop the protestors for some time, the police were recently given the ok to go in and remove the encampments.
This led to violence, with police being shot at by a person known as Tortuguita. One trooper was injured after being shot in the stomach. Police returned fire and killed the individual. However, protestors questioned the validity of these claims, leading to large protests in Atlanta. During those protests, some protesters became violent, with police being attacked, windows/buildings being vandalized, and a police cruiser lit on fire. Videos on YouTube and social media show the protests that went on—including racially based/focused attacks.
Law enforcement across the country is on alert to possible problems stemming from these incidents and sensitized to the potential for others. We may be reaching a tipping point again. It has been noted repeatedly that the issues that led to the George Floyd protests have not truly been addressed. And while things have been quiet for the last two years, frustrations have continued to grow throughout communities across the U.S.
For those with businesses or interests that were impacted during the George Floyd protests, it is prudent to make sure you know what is happening around your neighborhoods. The areas that were previously prone to such unrest will be again. We at Brosnan Risk are closely monitoring all these developments and stand ready to provide you, your companies, and your families the advice you need to successfully navigate through these uncertain times.
