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I recently returned from a visit to Mexico, staying for a few days near the Zocalo, the historic centre of Mexico City. Seeing this part of the city was a significant challenge. The great square that is the Zocalo, as well as most of the streets feeding into it, were blocked by hundreds of tents. The tents were strung up between buildings and covered by large tarpaulins, protecting the thousands of people in the tents from the intense heat and the occasional rain. After we left, the protesters marched on the airport, finally receiving international media coverage. Who are these people?

Supporters of the recently enacted bubble zone by-law in Toronto argue that the law is necessary to protect individuals, who are entering and leaving places such as synagogues and religious schools, from harassment and intimidation by protestors. While very little was said in these debates about the protection of “captive audiences” from speech they find objectionable, this concern is, I think, implicit in the claim that the speech of protestors, and more particularly pro-Palestinian protestors, is harmful. 

In a joint letter today, the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) joined with 13 other Canadian civil society organizations and digital policy experts in delivering a joint letter to key federal ministers, urging fundamental reform of Canada's approach to digital policymaking.