Proposed new rules meant to help police handle G-20 protests faced a barrage of verbal rotten eggs at a Pittsburgh City Council public hearing, and appear to be headed for a close vote.

The hearing was held to get views on rules that would allow police to cite people wearing masks or carrying items from pipes to high-powered rifles if they appear intent on thwarting police dispersal orders. It became an outlet for concern about what some called the pending militarization of Downtown, and what others characterized as the demonization of protest.