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The yellow vest movement was inspired by mass demonstrations that swept across France beginning last fall, largely in response to a planned gas tax hike. They morphed into an anti-government movement, with violent riots leading to extensive property damage and injuries as protesters clashed with police.

That in itself concerns Battershill. But he’s also worried about the issues that Canadian activists have grafted onto the movement after transplanting it to Canada. Some Canadian yellow vest protesters have expanded the anti-tax message to broach issues of immigration and identity. While Battershill wasn’t specific, he said there’s much there his group doesn’t support.

“There is no room for racism. There is no room for some of these viewpoints in our movement,” he said.

Mona Palaschak, an administrator on the Moose Jaw-based yellow vest Facebook page, countered that it’s a mistake to view the movement as “racist horrible people.”

“We are not racist or bigots. We are everyday people who don’t like the way this country is going, or the people who are trying to tear it apart,” she said.

“There is no hate allowed, only passion.”

Palaschak said the movement supports immigration so long as it is kept to manageable levels. But she said the yellow vests are a grassroots movement and lack a “head honcho” — which means each protester is free to conduct themselves as they like.

She said she understands that Canada Action may not want to have their message diluted by a movement that has tackled a much wider agenda. But she still seemed disappointed by the vest ban.