United States | News & Politics

Obviously a different country.... buuuuuut...I wouldn't be too surprised if the US has something similar.

To be clear, they're totally going full Fasci, and they'll mayyyybe dig around for something to charge people with after the fact, if not just send them straight to El Salvador or Guantanamo.

In Canada, Simple Assault is the lowest class of assault. Description below:

Simple Assault

This is the most basic type of assault charge in Canada, and, at this level, can be prosecuted in two ways. If someone is charged with simple assault as a summary conviction, this is the less severe of the two charges, and can actually be processed directly by a judge with no need for a jury or a jail sentence. However, in more severe cases of simple assault, it can be treated as an indictable offense, which will require a more formal court process.

Notice the emphasis on the last sentence.
In a case where there's a summary conviction for assault, but the accused was wearing a mask/bandana/face covering of some kind. There is then an ADDITIONAL charge of Disguise with intent to commit.

Disguise with intent

(2) Every person who, with intent to commit an indictable offence, has their face masked or coloured or is otherwise disguised is guilty of

(a) an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term of not more than 10 years; or

(b) an offence punishable on summary conviction.

This then automatically upgrades the initial charge of Simple Assault to an indictable offence. And if used to it's full extent can result in imprisonment, in federal prison (big boy jail), of no longer than 10 years.

For fun I looked to see if there was anything for the US on this. Below is the closest I could find without much effort:

18 U.S.C. § 241 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 241. Conspiracy against rights

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same; or

If two or more persons go in disguise on the highway, or on the premises of another, with intent to prevent or hinder his free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege so secured--

They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, they shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.