Mysterious brick piles and gasoline bottles: staying safe and sane despite riotous rumors

You might have come across reports about stacks of bricks conveniently left near protests across the U.S., ready to be thrown through windows. There's also been talk of gasoline bottles hidden in bushes around Minneapolis. Could people really be planting dangerous items in our cities? Let’s dig into these claims and try to separate fact from fiction.

What you should know:

  • We’re skeptical about the brick story, but some officials say it’s true. After investigating, we still can’t confirm either way.
  • The gasoline bottle story seems more credible than the bricks, but we’re still not 100% sure.
  • Right now, even the most honest professionals in public safety and media are struggling to tell what’s real from what’s just rumor. The situation is moving fast and full of uncertainty.
  • There are specific rules you can follow when evaluating warnings or information from authorities or the media (see the last section for tips).

Hit the Bricks

Over the past few days, conspiracy theories about hidden caches of bricks have been circulating. Here’s a video showing multiple protest sites with piles of bricks and even people handing them out (warning: explicit language).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZrwYynD5Rg

Both the left and right have their own theories about the mystery bricks. Some on the left claim that the police are planting bricks to incite violence and justify crackdowns. Others on the right blame left-wing groups like Antifa and George Soros. Here’s a clip from Sean Hannity’s coverage.

Debunking the Conspiracy Theories

But there are logical explanations for why bricks might be found near protests. Construction projects often leave pallets of bricks behind. For example, the Associated Press looked into reports of bricks near a protest in Frisco, Texas, and found that a construction site was planned nearby.

The BBC investigated a video from Fayetteville, North Carolina, tracked its location, and found images of the area from May 24th showing the bricks already in place before any protests occurred.

A Twitter user named @lextayham posted a video of brick pallets in San Francisco, and the San Francisco Police Department responded quickly, saying the bricks were from a construction site and that the contractor had been asked to remove them.

So, the explanation is simple: construction crews left the bricks behind, not expecting unrest. But wait—there’s more. The New York Police Department said they found “strategically placed” caches of bricks and rocks throughout the city.

Vice looked into it and found the bricks were far from any planned protests, though they admitted it was possible they were planted. A local council member said the bricks were just construction debris from a nearby site that hadn’t started yet.

Kansas City police also reported finding bricks and rocks stashed near a planned protest area.

Then there’s this video from Boston, where people claim police were planting bricks. But the university police later explained that the footage showed officers unloading bricks they had removed from a damaged sidewalk. The Boston Globe confirmed the sidewalk was in disrepair.

Bottles of Beer in the Grass…

Another strange report came from Minneapolis, where witnesses claimed to find bottles of gasoline and other flammable materials scattered around neighborhoods:

  • Minnesota Public Radio reported on matches, a jar of gasoline, and wood doused with flammable liquids found in south Minneapolis.
  • A Twitter account called @gullyboysband warned about water bottles filled with gas.
  • The Black Disability Collective also shared a warning about the same.

The Minneapolis Police Department issued a warning, telling residents to call 911 if they found anything suspicious.

But here’s the catch: no one has actually shown a photo of a gas-filled bottle. The idea isn’t impossible—caches are common in guerrilla warfare—but without proof, it’s hard to take it seriously.

The Bottom Line

We honestly aren’t sure what to make of the bricks or the gas bottles. It’s possible that troublemakers from any political side could be planting weapons to create chaos. But without clear evidence, it’s hard to know for sure.

We’d love to just trust our local authorities, but two things make us hesitant:

  1. Different agencies are giving conflicting messages, so there’s no single “official line.”
  2. Some authorities have misled the public before, like downplaying mask use during the pandemic. So blind trust isn’t always wise.

More: Milk doesn’t treat tear gas, but it helps a little with pepper spray.

On a practical level, here’s what makes sense:

  • Act as if the worst-case scenario your local authorities warn about is true. It doesn’t hurt to prepare for the worst.
  • Be careful how you share information from authorities. Don’t just repeat it as fact—frame it as a warning: “Authorities say this is happening. I can’t confirm it, but stay alert.”
  • Be cautious about sharing press reports about shadowy groups doing bad things—even trusted outlets can be fooled by misinformation.
  • Don’t get too caught up in who is responsible. If a brick hits you, you won’t care where it came from. Just be safe, wear protective gear, and have supplies like water, first aid, and masks.
  • Now is a good time to have a fire extinguisher at home—essential prep for any situation.

When dealing with fast-moving news in chaotic times, remember the “Sagan standard”: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Stick to basic preparedness and don’t let the noise drive you crazy.

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