By the book

If you want to understand what is happening right now, simply read three publications from the US Government. The first is called "Guide to the Analysis of Insurgency" (pdf warning) and was written by the CIA. The second is called FM- 7-98 OPERATIONS IN A LOW-INTENSITY CONFLICT (also a pdf). The third is Annex 3-22, Foreign Internal Defense (pdf warning), specifically APPENDIX A: INSURGENCY AND COUNTERINSURGENCY. 

We are currently just beginning Phase 2 of the Insurgency of Socialists who are attempting to overthrow the government of the US. There are those who have criticized me for saying it, but the Socialists themselves are telling us that is exactly what they are trying to do, and I am going to take them at their word. Here is the definition of Phase I and II:

Phase I (pre-hostility or incipient phase) corresponds to infrastructure development
plus initial recruiting, organizing, training, and equipping of combat elements.
During this phase, insurgents may engage the government in open political
confrontations like public demonstrations, labor strikes, and boycotts. Insurgents
often establish secure base areas for military command elements and guerrilla
operations during this phase. Political-ideological cadres focus on indoctrination of
civilians and armed revolutionaries.
Phase II (guerrilla warfare phase) is the first level of armed violence. Irregular
forces engage in sabotage, interdiction of communication and logistics links,
assassination, and selective attacks against government forces. Insurgents expand
their secure base areas and, where possible, link them to form strategic enclaves
of political autonomy.

Now that the riots and violence have begun, things will continue to get sporty from here.