Opponents take anti-terror bill fight downtown, today

A month after waving placards in front of Sudbury Courthouse, opponents to Ottawa's Bill C-51 anti-terrorism legislation are taking their fight right into the downtown core April 18.

The demonstration will be held outside the Rainbow Centre Mall at 1 p.m. Similar protests are being held in more than 30 cities. There is no word if the event will disrupt traffic Elm Street.

In a news release, organizers called the bill “reckless and dangerous legislation, which even if amended, could be abused to infringe on our democratic right to free speech and expression.”

The bill is set to have its third reading on Monday.

Opponents say the bill threatens Canadians' charter rights, was rushed through parliament without sufficient debate, risks turning the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) into a secret police and could be used to define some groups with legitimate concerns as terrorists.

Protests are planned in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa, Windsor, London, Montreal, Halifax, Fredericton, Newfoundland and others.

For more information, visit the Stop Bill C-51 website.