Riot
Riot, a temporary, violent public disorder involving a number of persons. In law, a riot is defined as a serious disturbance by three or more persons acting together for a common purpose. Generally a riot, whether spontaneous or planned, is marked by confusion, tumult, and violence. Rioters may destroy property, injure or kill persons, or engage civil authorities or military forces in pitched battles. When many people riot, the crowd is called a mob. A riot aimed at the overthrow of a government by force of arms is a form of insurrection.
A riot differs from a demonstration in that the latter is a peaceful public display of group feelings, usually in protest. Generally it is organized and remains under the control of its leaders. However, a demonstration may become disorderly and turn into a riot when emotions become inflamed.
The underlying causes of most riots are unresolved economic, political, social, or religious grievances and quarrels. The immediate cause of a particular riot, however, is frequently some random incident that causes feelings of discontent, frustration, or bitterness to erupt into violence. Once a riot begins, it is often fueled by mob hysteria, agitation, and its own momentum. Persons who have no particular motivation may also join in the rioting. Occasionally, a riot may be planned; a group may choose rioting as a means to achieve its objectives.
In the United States, it is a federal crime for a person to enter a state to incite a riot. Also, every state has a riot act, a law that defines the crime and provides for punishment. Rioters are also liable to punishment for crimes—such as looting, arson, assault, or murder—committed during a riot. Insurrection is punishable under treason statutes.
Riots In HistoryVarious kinds of riots have occurred throughout history. Widespread rioting followed the accession to the English throne of George I, a German. There were violent anti-Catholic outbursts in the United States in the mid-19th century. During the American Civil War, draft riots were sparked by an unfair law of military conscription. Race riots directed against blacks have taken place in the United States, and occasionally unresolved labor disputes have erupted in violence. In many developing countries in Asia and Africa, political and religious quarrels have incited rioting.
In the 1960's, there were riots in the black ghettos of many American cities. Rampages of looting, burning, and sniping took many lives and caused millions of dollars in property damage. According to the Kerner Commission, which studied these disorders, blacks were releasing the resentment of years of discriminatory treatment and economic deprivation. Also in the 1960's, students rioted at colleges and universities in many countries, protesting established authority and world conditions.