Police Prepare for Black Unrest Nationwide

From The Hill:

Police departments in cities across the country are beefing up their ranks for Election Day, preparing for possible civil unrest and riots after the historic presidential contest.

Public safety officials said in interviews with The Hill that the election, which will end with either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president, demanded a stronger police presence.

Some worry that if Barack Obama loses and there is suspicion of foul play in the election, violence could ensue in cities with large black populations. Others based the need for enhanced patrols on past riots in urban areas (following professional sports events) and also on Internet rumors.

Democratic strategists and advocates for black voters say they understand officers wanting to keep the peace, but caution that excessive police presence could intimidate voters.

Sen. Obama (Ill.), the Democratic nominee for president, has seen his lead over rival Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) grow in recent weeks, prompting speculation that there could be a violent backlash if he loses unexpectedly.

Cities that have suffered unrest before, such as Detroit, Chicago, Oakland and Philadelphia, will have extra police deployed.

In Oakland, the police will deploy extra units trained in riot control, as well as extra traffic police, and even put SWAT teams on standby.

“Are we anticipating it will be a riot situation? No. But will we be prepared if it goes awry? Yes,” said Jeff Thomason, spokesman for the Oakland Police Department.

What's interesting is that rioting could break out with either an Obama victory or a loss.

If he wins, we may see urban hooliganism, when the release of frustration and victimology erupts in righteous mayhem. If Obama loses, anger and outrage over being "shafted" by "the man" may result in violence and looting as rootless thugs seek to destroy the appendages of American apartheid's white supremacist regime.

Both Democratic strategist James Carville and the NAACP's Hilary Shelton have warned of race riots on November 4th.

Will Republican street thugs riot in the event of a McCain defeat? Counterintuitively, the projections are coming in on GOP thuggery.