# Businesses boarding up in major cities **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 2, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588 "2020-11-02T20:40:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/1 "2020-11-02T20:40:28Z")
I’d heard about this in DC, but it’s scary to actually see the pictures of _CVS_ and _Pret a Manger_ in DC cocooned in plywood. And it’s even scarier to see it in San Francisco, LA, New York City, Chicaco, and even Boston. > **[Cities Are Preparing for Election Night Protests With Curfews and Plywood](https://www.curbed.com/2020/11/cities-boarding-up-election-protests-la-chicago.html)** > > Boarding up windows, locking down, and anticipating an unsettled outcome. They’ve put an additional, “unscalable” fence around the White House. But e know how _unscalable_ his Mexico wall constructions have been. > **[White House To Erect 'Non-Scalable' Fence Ahead Of Election Day](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/white-house-erects-fence-before-election_n_5fa004ccc5b658b27c3c8d04)** > > The extra layer of security comes as retailers across the country boarded up their stores in anticipation of possible election unrest. Interesting times very shortly ahead. > **[Stores and small businesses hire extra security, board up windows ahead of...](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/stores-businesses-prepare-potential-election-related-unrest-n1245466)** > > While some businesses are running crisis simulations, others can barely afford to protect their stores and are hoping for "a busy day with happy people." > **[America boards up: Cities across the nation prepare for election riots](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8899645/America-boards-Cities-nation-prepare-widespread-election-riots.html)** > > On Friday, boards went up over storefronts in Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Denver and elsewhere in anticipation of potential political violence. > **[Ahead of Election, Police Prepare for Violence and Disruption (Published 2020)](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/01/us/election-police-violence.html)** > > Many law enforcement officials have attempted to inject calm while warning of dire consequences for those who try to disrupt voting. > **[Pru among businesses boarding up doors ahead of Election Day](https://whdh.com/news/pru-among-businesses-boarding-up-doors-ahead-of-election-day/)** > > BOSTON (WHDH) - Several Boston businesses are boarding up windows and doors in case emotions run high on Election Day.The Prudential Center is beefing up... They’re running short of plywood in some places > **[Plywood runs low as retailers board up storefronts ahead of Election Day](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/election-day-2020-retailers-board-up-stores-anticipate-unrest/)** > > High-end and discount retailers alike are enlisting construction companies to help protect their businesses if protests erupt. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/2 "2020-11-02T21:05:20Z")
I **told** you this would happen in Biden’s America. Oh. No. Wait … :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/3 "2020-11-02T21:06:19Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > And it’s even scarier to see it in San Francisco, LA, New York City, Chicaco, and even Boston. Seattle too. I was downtown last Friday and plywood was going up. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/4 "2020-11-02T21:28:27Z")
It’s happening in Denver too. I was talking to a major commercial landlord and they were planning to start boarding up today. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/5 "2020-11-02T21:36:58Z")
This is what happens when people can’t accept an election outcome peacefully. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/6 "2020-11-02T22:06:50Z")
Part of it is supposedly due to reasonable precautions clause in insurance policies. And that goes especially for places that filed a claim during the summer riots ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/7 "2020-11-02T22:26:28Z")
Trump is finally getting his wall! Hopefully it is “non-scalable” from the inside as well… ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/8 "2020-11-03T00:33:35Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This is what happens when people can’t accept an election outcome peacefully. This is what happens when a President says he won’t accept the outcome of an election unless it goes his way. _That_ is the only reason for the fear. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/9 "2020-11-03T00:50:16Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > This is what happens when people can’t accept an election outcome peacefully. Though I’ve had the sad thought that even people supposedly on the winning side may decide it’s an excuse to act up. > [@dalej42](#): > > Part of it is supposedly due to reasonable precautions clause in insurance policies. And that goes especially for places that filed a claim during the summer riots Very much on point. And it’s just terrible that we’ve come to the point where it is _reasonable_ to prepare for vandalism on election night. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/10 "2020-11-03T19:30:11Z")
Fudd’s New Law of Opposition: “If 500,000 people push on an Un-scaleable Wall it will fall over”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/11 "2020-11-03T19:49:59Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Fudd’s New Law of Opposition: “If 500,000 people push on an Un-scaleable Wall it will fall over”. - Looney Toons Law of Opposition: If 500,000 people push on an Un-scaleable Wall it will fall over towards the pushing force." 😉 ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/12 "2020-11-03T20:24:17Z")
> [@Philliam](#): > > Fudd’s New Law of Opposition: I haven’t been on SDMB all that long, but I _have_ been just _the tiniest bit_ disappointed that I hadn’t seen more Firesign references. Meaning: cheers ! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/13 "2020-11-03T20:32:41Z")
Well, she’s no fun, she fell right over. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/14 "2020-11-03T20:48:28Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Very much on point. And it’s just terrible that we’ve come to the point where it is _reasonable_ to prepare for vandalism on election night. And we owe that all to one person. One person who has spent the entire campaign stirring up the troops. Even during the sovereignty referendums in Quebec there was nothing like this, although feelings ran very high. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/15 "2020-11-03T21:02:22Z")
> ## America boards up: Cities across the nation prepare for widespread looting and riots Isn’t that just the sort of thing that happens in all those “shithole countries”? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/16 "2020-11-03T21:08:07Z")
They are boarding up because they are afraid of people who overwhemingly voted for Biden. They are not afraid of Trump voters, whatever the result. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/17 "2020-11-03T21:34:13Z")
> [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](#): > > They are not afraid of Trump voters, whatever the result. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/18 "2020-11-03T21:38:37Z")
My post is my cite. Where are they boarding up? Dem cities that have been under attack by people who disproportionatley vote D. Their fear is a close Trump victory, not a Biden landslide. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/19 "2020-11-03T21:45:05Z")
Seems like a thread to post this: > **[American Exceptionalism Makes Us Think We'd Never Face the Violent Unrest of...](https://time.com/5905710/american-exceptionalism-election-violence/)** > > Could an implicit bias in our exceptionalism take us blindly from “our city on a hill” along a winding path that leads to the lowlands of dysfunction? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588/20 "2020-11-03T23:52:22Z")
[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/businesses-boarding-election-trump-america-195519189.html](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/businesses-boarding-election-trump-america-195519189.html) > Experts say people are right to be concerned. “What we fear is that guns, protests and elections do not mix well,” Hrair Balian, director of the Conflict Resolution Program at The Carter Center, [told NPR](https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/928791633/guns-protests-and-elections-do-not-mix-conflict-experts-see-rising-warning-signs). Balian is referring to the increasingly militant armed groups of Trump supporters who have become increasingly visible over the last few years — from showing up at the Michigan State Capitol, to riding around in pro-Trump caravans, to arriving at polls to intimidate voters. [Right-wing groups have also been a huge presence](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/06/9856050/outside-agitators-meaning-black-lives-matter-protests) at nationwide protests over racial injustice since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer this summer. > [Trump has fanned the flames](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/09/10057566/trump-proud-boys-stand-by-back-white-supremacy-debate) of his supporters, both in sending them messages to “stand by,” but also in [his refusal to commit to a peaceful transfer of power](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/09/10037490/trump-threat-executive-order-biden-refuse-step-down), which has been the hallmark of American democracy since the country’s inception. > > “Probably the biggest issue is the president of the United States right now, who has portrayed himself as somebody who, you know, is not necessarily interested in calming the waters,” Stephen Pomper, senior director for policy at the International Crisis Group, [told NPR](https://www.npr.org/2020/10/29/928791633/guns-protests-and-elections-do-not-mix-conflict-experts-see-rising-warning-signs), adding that Trump “might actually court unrest in order to serve his political and personal goals.” > > The uncertainty around whether or not there will be massive political unrest following the election is a sign of an unstable democracy, and evidence of how much Trump has degraded so many aspects of American life over the last four years. America’s democracy was never perfect — the GOP has long used voter suppression in order to maintain any semblance of power in the U.S. and the [electoral college is far from fair](https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/10/10077364/electoral-college-slavery-racist-history). But under Trump, the hallmarks of tradition and engaging in the system in good faith have all gone out the window. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/businesses-boarding-up-in-major-cities/924588.md?page=2)