19 January 2009

Speaking of "scary, hidden" agendas

The city of Montreal says it plans to pass a bylaw forbidding people to wear masks or face coverings at public demonstrations - a bylaw that civil-rights experts say could turn out to be unconstitutional.

Montreal police have asked the city for the bylaw, saying they want to be able to identify participants in violent protests.
This being Canada, there will, of course, be... the usual exceptions...
For example, protesters would be allowed to cover their faces for religious reasons, and during cold winter events, said Claude Dauphin, chairperson of the public-security committee.
So, who are the folks who show up to the party incognito?
In North America and Europe, young masked demonstrators have usually been linked with the political left wing or with anarchist movements.

In Quebec, masked demonstrators showed up at some Liberal Party events during last fall's provincial election campaign.
Yeah... I'm shocked.

(h/t reader rich)

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