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From downtown streets to a suburban community centre, hundreds of Calgarians gathered Saturday to voice their opposition to the sweeping federal Anti-Terrorism Act.

Calgary Police estimate over 500 people gathered midday at City Hall to protest Bill C-51, an anti-terrorism bill that has provoked the ire of civil liberties and ethnic groups. The march was part of a national campaign by advocacy group Lead Now.

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The bill, tabled in late January, aims to let police detain suspected terrorists with less evidence, allow Canada’s spy agency Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to share data with government departments, criminalize the “promotion of terrorism” and clarify how the government can add people to Canada’s no-fly list.

Photo by Courtesy Matthew Evans / Calgary Herald

The federal government says the bill is a measured response to what it calls “the international jihadist movement,” to prevent terrorist attacks and stop the flow of Canadians to groups like the Islamic State (ISIL).