Business shops boarding up for possible Election Day violence [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Business establishments across the US have put boards over windows to protect their properties from potential election-related violence.
• The demand for plywood has increased significantly as sales have climbed to 40 percent.
• The National Retail Federation has conducted a video conference to orient retailers on how to mitigate customer-related tensions.

As the country prepares for potential unrest following Election Day results, businesses put up boards over their windows to protect their establishments. The presence of plywood is visibly seen across cities.

The preparations were similar to the time when the coronavirus pandemic has overwhelmed the US, where businesses boarded their windows for shelter-in-place orders. The same scenario happened during summer, wherein business owners covered their buildings with boards as the infamous brutal death of George Floyd fueled nationwide protests and unrests.

Establishments that had their properties destroyed in recent months have again prepared for the worst.

Businesses that sell boards reported a significant increase in sales. Hardware store manager Shain Jenkins in Seattle told USA Today that demand for plywood has surged up to 40 percent.

Concerns over potential violence have opted Walmart retailing to pull firearms and ammunition out of their shelves in US stores. The decision was made to avoid the purchase of weapons for a possible “violent use.” The company, though, backtracked on October 30, claiming that they would replace the displayed items since the potential unrest claim was still “isolated.”

Concerns over the presidential election from business owners were unusual. In an October 28 poll initiated by USA Today/Suffolk University, 75 percent of voters were wary of a potential riot on Election Day. Meanwhile, only one out of four said that there would be a peaceful transition of power if Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wins the election.

With President Donald Trump’s bold statements ⏤ continuous declination that he would participate in a peaceful transition and his call to supporters to have an “army” of poll watchers ⏤ the unrest could really happen.

Experts have also warned of the possible chaos given the high polarization in the country.

On October 30, a video conference was held by the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association. Aside from the stores’ preparations, over 120 representatives from 60 retail brands attended the webinar on how to de-escalate customer-based hostility that includes election-related circumstances.

The organization has consulted security experts to prepare accordingly and identify the most vulnerable cities to violence on Election Day.

Source: VOX.com