Riot

A riot is a type of civil disorder where people commit public violence against authorities or property. These events usually involve destroying public or private property, with targets ranging from shops, cars, and restaurants to state institutions, religious buildings, or other symbols of a specific group. While political grievances can spark a riot, government offices have also been targeted in notable historical events such as the storming of the Bastille and the 1992 Los Angeles riots, showing that no location is immune. Riots often stem from a perceived grievance or dissent. Historically, causes have included poverty, unemployment, poor living conditions, government oppression, taxation, conscription, ethnic or religious conflicts, the outcome of a sporting event, or frustration with legal ways to address complaints. Although individuals may try to lead or control a riot, these gatherings are typically disorganized and chaotic, exhibiting herd behavior. However, some evidence suggests that rioters may follow inverted social norms rather than acting irrationally. Police often struggle to handle riots. They may use tear gas or CS gas, and riot police may employ less-lethal methods like shotguns firing flexible baton rounds or rubber bullets to injure or incapacitate rioters, breaking up the crowd or making arrests easier. Food riots can occur due to shortages from harvest failures, poor storage, hoarding, poisoning, or pests. Desperate people may attack shops, farms, homes, or government buildings to loot staples like bread, grain, or salt. For example, in 1977, hundreds of thousands rioted in Egypt after food subsidies ended and prices rose. A police riot refers to the disproportionate and unlawful use of force by a group of police against civilians, often involving attacks or provocation. A political riot is one driven by political purposes or emerging from a political protest. A prison riot is a large-scale, temporary act of defiance by prisoners against administrators, officers, or other inmates, often to express a grievance, force change, or attempt escape. In a race riot, race or ethnicity is the key factor. The term entered English in the United States by the 1890s, originally referring to mob actions by a majority racial group against people of other perceived races. In a religious riot, religion is the key factor.