Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 21 August 2024

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters.

Update on Protests from the DNC

Chicago police and the U.S. Secret Service said a bomb threat that was reported Tuesday at several hotels on the Near West Side was unfounded. City officials said law enforcement cleared a number of locations downtown on Tuesday afternoon and “said no credible threats were found.” The threat, which was emailed to the Fox 32 Newsroom, said pipe bombs were placed in the Hotel Chicago West Loop and the Hyatt House Chicago in West Loop and the University District. The threat mentioned the Democratic National Convention that is taking place this week on the city’s Near West Side. It also included Antisemitic statements.

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters charged a line of police in an intense standoff with hundreds of officers outside the Israeli consulate Tuesday on the second night of the Democratic National Convention. After the larger gathering began to disperse, splintering off into smaller groups, other interactions with police led to more than a dozen arrests. Officers called the demonstrations “an unlawful assembly.” While some protesters were accused of tearing down security fencing, overall crowd sizes were smaller than predicted.

Analyst Comments:

As always, major events like the DNC can draw protest and counter protest activity, and particularly with the tensions surrounding calls for a ceasefire, houses of worship and other religiously-affiliated organizations can become primary or secondary targets. The FB-ISAO encourages members to monitor local protest activity and keep staff and the community informed, and increase security postures as necessary.

Additional election and DNC related security updates include:

• Protesters arrested after clash with police outside Chicago’s Israeli consulate
• Neo-Nazi terrorist group using Steve Bannon account to radicalize people
• Joint ODNI, FBI, and CISA Statement on Iranian Election Influence Efforts
• U.S. says Iran cyber operations targeted Trump, Harris campaigns
• Recorded Future: GreenCharlie Infrastructure Linked to US Political Campaign Targeting

FEMA Advisory: Register Now for a “National Conversation on Resilience in America” on August 23

Each August, FEMA celebrates National Resilience Month to highlight all the critically important resilience work occurring across the country. In honor of this annual campaign and 2024 being named as FEMA’s Year of Resilience, FEMA is hosting a “National Conversation on Resilience in America” virtual event featuring Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell along with other federal, state and local partners.

Analyst Comments:

Registration is required. Register at: A National Conversation on Resilience in America | FEMA.gov

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, Aug. 23, 2024 – 1– 2:30 p.m. ET via Zoom
• Audience: State, local, Tribal Nation and territorial stakeholders, emergency managers, city managers, mayors, and non-profits.