They break up public meetings or rites perhaps (7)

I believe the answer is:

rioters

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'they break up public meetings' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'or rites perhaps' is the wordplay.
'perhaps' indicates an anagram.
'or'+'rites'='orrites'
'orrites' is an anagram of 'RIOTERS'.

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(Other definitions for rioters that I've seen before include "Demonstrators" , "Rabble-rousers" , "Violent protesters" , "Violent troublemakers" , "They disturb the peace" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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