D.C. Shops Boarding Windows, Anticipating Riots on Election Night

In what has become a regular occurrence, stores and shops arounds Washington D.C. have begun boarding up their windows in anticipation of riots on election night, now less than a week away.

While the D.C. police say that there are no specific threats of violence, many business owners in the vicinity of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave are all too familiar with what happens around election time, especially with Donald Trump leading in many national polls.

The precautions were seen at both small businesses and major chains like Starbucks and McDonald’s.

The chief of the D.C. Police, Pamela A. Smith, says that the entire force of 3,300 officers will be deployed in 12 hour shifts across the district on election day.

“We will not tolerate any violence of any kind,” Smith said at a news conference. “We will not tolerate the destruction of property. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior. Offenders will be arrested and will be held accountable.”

Unfortunately, rioting has become all too common in recent years.

Nearly every major city across the country has experienced some level of protests and/or riots, from the 2016 election to the death of George Floyd.

Below is a clip of riots in Portland, Oregon after Donald Trump’s election in 2016.

In Oakland, California, anti-Trump riots led to more than 30 arrests and three police officers sustaining injuries.