Black bloc

Rare card · No. 19053

A black bloc (sometimes black block) is a tactic used by protesters — usually pro-democracy protesters or members of the far-left — who wear similar clothing including ski masks, scarves, sunglasses, and personal protective equipment including goggles, gas masks, motorcycle helmets with padding, or other face-concealing and face-protecting items that are often (but not necessarily) black. The clothing is used to conceal wearers' identities from both the police and politically opposing parties (namely members of the far-right) by making it difficult to distinguish between participants. The tactic allows the group to appear as one large unified mass, and it is also used for protection from riot control methods like pepper spray or tear gas, which are sometimes used by police during civil unrest. Black bloc participants are often associated with anarchism and affinity groups. A variant of this type of protest is the Padded bloc, where following the Tute Bianche movement protesters wear padded...

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