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Chauvin Trial Verdict Likely to Spur Unrest

SITUATION REPORT

The trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd, wrapped up this week. The jury has reached a verdict and it will be announced today between 1630 and 1700 EST. 

Protests, counter-protests, unrest, and rioting are possible after the verdict is announced, regardless if he is found guilty or not guilty on any, all, or none of the charges.

Protests in response to Floyd's killing over the summer of 2020 lead to widespread unrest and riots in major cities. Similar unrest is possible in the wake of the trial verdict, especially in Minneapolis and other cities that saw significant upheaval in the summer of 2020, including Chicago and Atlanta.

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U.S.: The Rise in Violent Crime Could Continue in 2021

SITUATION REPORT

While violent crime in the U.S. has been on the rise since 2014, the precipitous spike in 2020 is completely unprecedented. The year 2020 was by no means a normal year. But is the elevated level of violent crime here to stay? To address whether or not last year was an anomaly or an inflection point, it is important to reflect on the causes of the surge in violent crime. 


BREAKING DOWN THE 2020 CRIME SURGE

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics both report that violent crime increased in 2020. Indeed, if the FBI’s preliminary data for 2020 holds (the conclusive report will be issued in September), then the U.S. recorded more than 20,000 murders in 2020(6.22 homicides per 100,000 people), the highest total since 1995 (8.22 homicides per 100,000 people). Alarmingly, this represents the largest yearly increase of homicides on record with estimates ranging from a 25 to 30 percent increase over 2019 levels. According to these data, aggravated assaults also increased by 10.5 percent. Meanwhile, with the exception of motor vehicle theft – which rose by 13 percent – non-violent crime fell significantly in 2020. Similarly, public mass shootings were effectively paused by the pandemic. This pause was broken in March 2021, as the country began loosening restrictions, with a mass shooting in Atlanta and continued through April with mass shootings in Boulder and Indianapolis.

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Unrest in Minnesota

SITUATION REPORT

Protests, looting, and rioting occurred in the Twin Cities area in the aftermath of the 11 April fatal police shooting of 20-year-old Daunte Wright in Brooklyn Center, MN. Wright was pulled over for having an expired registration on his vehicle and was then discovered to have an outstanding warrant. He was shot in the ensuing altercation and an investigation is ongoing. The Twin Cities area was already on edge due to the ongoing trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis PD officer accused of killing George Floyd in May 2020.

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Recent Mass Shootings Spark Post-Pandemic Concern

IncidenT

 The pandemic has seen a significant shift in crime trends in the United States. Homicides across major cities increased significantly in 2020 and through 2021; however, public mass shootings were effectively paused by the pandemic as schools closed, work places emptied, and public spaces became less crowded. 

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Microsoft Exchange Server Attack

Incident: Last week Microsoft and DHS CISA reported that a previously unknown vulnerability in on-premise, self-hosted Microsoft Exchange Servers was being exploited by government sponsored espionage hackers, dubbed Hafnium. The attacks allowed not only inbox access, but offered the ability for attackers to steal mailbox contents.

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Webinar: Managing Physical and Online Threats: Mitigating Risk in Today’s World

The rise in crime that has accompanied the global pandemic and economic downturn has meant businesses are increasingly becoming targets for online and physical attacks. Whether from disgruntled former employees or an angry corner of the internet, threats against brands, executives, and employees are on the rise. Online threats, such as cyber-attacks and data breaches, can harm a company’s reputation, expose financial data and confidential information, and even be used to threaten executives.

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Myanmar Coup Update - Situation Worsens

SITUATION: On 1 February, the Myanmar military seized control of the government, declaring a year-long state of emergency, following a general election in which Ms. Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party won by a landslide.

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COVID-19 Update: J&J Vaccine Approved

Johnson & Johnson's single-dose vaccine received Emergency Authorization Approval (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In an effort to increase production, the Biden administration brokered a deal in which Merck would help manufacture J&J's vaccine.

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Global Guardian Provides Executive Protection for Members of Congress

EXECUTIVE PROTECTION & TRANSPORTATION CASE STUDY: MEMBERS OF CONGRESS THREATENED AFTER VIOLENT ATTACKS AT THE CAPITOL

INCIDENT: Members of Congress threatened due to January 6 violent attacks at the US Capitol Building

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Global Guardian Provides Emergency Response Amid Storms in Texas

EMERGENCY RESPONSE CASE STUDY: SEVERE WINTER STORMS CAUSE POWER FAILURE IN TEXAS

INCIDENT: Amid record-low temperatures, millions of Texas residents lost power and access to water, prompting the need for emergency assistance for Global Guardian clients and their employee base throughout the state.

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