Enhancing Personal and Organizational Security During Civil Unrest

Authored by Scott Breor, CISA Acting Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security

As highlighted in the Department of Homeland Security’s National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin, the U.S. has experienced many incidents of civil unrest in the past year and in the current sociopolitical environment, there remains a potential for further unrest.  The right to assemble is recognized as a key American value and is protected in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  Demonstrations are richly woven into the fabric of American history; however, domestic terrorists and other violent extremist actors may continue to leverage peaceful protests to attempt to incite, hate, destroy critical infrastructure, and inflict bodily harm. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides resources to the infrastructure community to support efforts in protecting people and property.  The Protecting Infrastructure During Public Demonstrations fact sheet provides risk mitigation considerations for infrastructure owners and operators.

Extremist actors have also used rhetoric to attempt to threaten high-profile individuals associated with the management and operation of critical infrastructure.  CISA recommends that individuals, especially those with higher profile status, implement basic security measures to increase personal safety. The Personal Security Considerations Action Guide: Critical Infrastructure Workers helps critical infrastructure workers assess their security posture and provide options to consider whether they are on or off the job. This action guide provides actionable recommendations and resources intended to prevent and mitigate threats to a critical infrastructure worker’s personal safety.

For additional resources relating to personal and infrastructure security visit cisa.gov/topics/physical-security.