Riots

Definitions of Riots

As riots have occurred over the years scholars have formulated several definitions of a riot in an attempt to identify causes and elements. Although no one universal definition has been formulated, many scholars have formulated definitions that are comprehensive in scope and have similar components. George Rush (2000) defines a riot as the coming together of a group of persons who engage in violent and tumultuous conduct, thereby causing or creating either a serious, imminent risk of injury to persons, damage to property, or other public harm. M. D. Smith (1983) defines riots as issue based or issueless. Issue-based riots are violent group incidents that seek to change a social concern or problem. Issueless riots are meaningless and have no motivation other than opportunity to express open hostility. For example, the University of Colorado experienced what Smith would define as an issueless riot. On August 27, 2000, 1,500 students participated in a riot that caused $8,000 in property damage on campus. Participating students reported that the riot was simply a way to relieve stress from their midterm exams.

Experts have also defined riots by their level of violence and destruction. The U.S. Riot Commission Report (1968: 113) classified riots as major, serious, or minor disorders. A “major disorder” includes many fires, intensive looting, violence lasting more than two [Page 1404]days, sizable crowds, and the use of the National Guard and local and state law enforcement to control it. A “serious disorder” includes isolated looting, some fires, a limited amount of rock throwing, violence lasting one to two days, only one sizeable crowd or many small groups, and the use of local and state for control. A “minor disorder” includes few fires and broken windows, violence that lasts generally less than one day, participation by only small number of people, and the use of only local police or police from a neighboring community to control it.

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