Thousands of Canadians joined in a protest across the country March 14 to denounce the Conservative government’s proposed anti-terror legislation, Bill C-51, which opponents say will allow to government to stifle protest and dissent.

According to The Canadian Press, the government introduced the wide-ranging bill in January, and it would give police broader powers and allow them to detain terror suspects, as well as give new powers to Canada’s spy agency. Protest organizers say the bill would infringe upon Canadians’ civil liberties and right to privacy, especially online.