Ejusdem generis

the ejusdem generis rule of statutory interpretation — which we contract hacks like when it suits us to extend by analogy into contractual interpretation — says wherever general words follow specific words, the general words should be read to include only objects similar in nature to those specific words.

So, “any uprising, riot, looting, organised disobedience or other civil commotion” would not including ironic “flash-mob” performances of songs from The Sound of Music however tiresome or poorly organised, as long as not specifically violent in aspect (of course there is every chance that passers by would become spontaneously violent upon being confronted by an ironic flash mob.

Plain English Anatomy™ Noun | Verb | Adjective | Adverb | Preposition | Conjunction | Latin | Germany | Flannel | Legal triplicate | Nominalisation | Murder your darlings