What happened at the Capitol on January 6 is always referred to as a “riot“. Today I heard reference to the “civil unrest“ after the Freddie Grey incident in Baltimore. More than 30 pharmacies were destroyed, their drug inventories stolen. Many businesses were burned to the ground. For several years after it the media always referred to it as “unrest”. I don’t know if now saying “civil unrest” makes it seem more serious or less serious. Either way, it is a ridiculous title for what happened for several days.
Almost nothing last summer is ever called a “riot”. I think there were ramifications as far as responsibility and insurance claims if some thing is declared to be a riot. They were “mostly peaceful” protests. NOT.