Over the past five days, protests against immigration raids have escalated into a full-scale crisis in downtown LA. With thousands of troops authorized for deployment, the National Guard in LA has brought even more visibility and volatility to the situation. Physical clashes have erupted between protesters and law enforcement. Federal buildings have been targeted. Self-driving cars set on fire. Journalists struck by “less-lethal” rounds. The entire downtown area is now classified as an unlawful assembly zone.
With Marines on the way, this incident has festered into escalated tensions between state and federal leadership. Politics aside, the risk to people, organizations, and assets is real. If you’re in a leadership role, this is a moment for clarity and action. When the National Guard is patrolling the second-largest city in America, business-as-usual no longer applies.
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This Isn’t New, But It’s Getting Harder to Ignore
What’s happening in LA didn’t come out of nowhere. Tension and civil unrest in the U.S.A. has been on the rise for more than a decade. Cities have seen flashpoints over policing, politics, public health, and now, immigration enforcement. The pressure keeps building.
And the world is watching. Worldwide government agencies and think tanks include U.S. civil unrest, and even civil war, in their contingency models. We know how disruptive civil unrest can be, even if your organization isn’t involved or taking a side.
You don’t have to be the target to suffer consequences. The question is: are you taking steps now to protect your operation and minimize those consequences?
National Guard in LA Today, Protests in Your Community Tomorrow?
If you’re based in Los Angeles:
- Your people are navigating blocked roads, closed buildings, and elevated threat levels.
- A single viral video or delayed response could put your brand under fire.
- You may have hours, not days, to adjust operations.
If you’re elsewhere:
- Social unrest has a proven pattern of spreading: copycat events, solidarity marches, opportunistic agitators.
- It might not be your city today. But it could be tomorrow.
Even if you’re not in a protest zone, you’re not insulated:
- Supply chain drag from logistics slowdowns, missed deliveries, or vendor delays
- Digital disinformation creating confusion or targeting brands by name
- Employee fear and stress, especially among public-facing or remote staff
- Reputation risk from perceived inaction, silence, or unpreparedness
- Insurance and liability issues if your emergency playbook falls short
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5 Moves to Make Now: Your Civil Unrest Checklist for Organizations
If you’re in a leadership role, these are the areas you can control today. This civil unrest checklist for organizations is a good place to start:
- Assess Your Exposure: Map vulnerabilities across physical locations, digital systems, and public-facing teams.
- Sharpen Your Communication Tree: Ensure everyone knows who’s in charge of what: alerts, updates, and external messaging. In a crisis, communication is key.
- Pressure-Test Your Preparedness and Contingency Plans: What is the plan? Is it flexible and updated? Who makes the calls? Is there organizational awareness?
- Reconnect With Your Frontlines: Your employees, vendors, and private security partners are your early warning system. Talk to them.
- Line Up Trusted Experts Now: Have your security and risk advisors ready, don’t wait until your inbox is on fire.
Want to Compare Notes With Experts? Let’s Talk
At TAL Global, we help public-facing organizations get ahead of fast-moving threats like this.
Whether you’re managing a downtown property, leading a retail network, or working to keep your teams safe and informed, we’ve seen what works, and what fails.
We’ve advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and global brands through protests, riots, and periods of civil unrest in the U.S.A.. Our team brings direct, on-the-ground experience and strategic insight into what it takes to prepare, adapt, and protect what matters.
Talk to us with no obligation. We’ll compare notes and walk you through the steps smart organizations are taking to stay steady when the ground shakes.
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About TAL Global
With over 25 years of proven experience, TAL Global specializes in security consulting and risk management. We deliver tailored, practical solutions for organizations facing real world threats.
Our experts are recognized leaders in comprehensive risk assessments, strategic planning, investigation, executive protection, and hands-on training. We are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and mission driven nonprofits.
Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube for expert tips and strategies. Or reach out directly to Talk To Us about custom and actionable solutions for your organization.
