Do you really need a permit to protest?

[Flurry]

I don't see the point in having a permit to protest? Shouldn't you just be able to go out and do it? After all, that's the point right?

 

[DrLeftover]

The excuse is to help offset the expense the city incurs through having to have extra police on hand in case things get out of hand, to clean up the mess afterward, and the general inconvenience of having a large group of people milling around and singing songs about how stupid everybody else is.



However, if you looked at the actual cost of all of that the permit fee isn't even close to covering it.



So... Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Cranos]

As far as I can tell, it's so that the authorities can be warned in time and the necessary precautions can be taken.

 

[Evil Eye]

So... what if you don't get a permit? Can you protest against that?

 

[Skillet]

If marchers stay on the sidewalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals, their activity is constitutionally protected even without a permit. Marchers may be required to allow enough space on the sidewalk for normal pedestrian traffic and may not maliciously obstruct or detain passers-by.

 

[Jazzy]

Where I live you have to get the protest permit from the police station. They want to know what (you are protesting), where (protesters will congregate) and how many protesters. The reason they want to know the what, where and how many is for public safety (according to them). If they do not agree with the reason behind the protest, permit is denied.

 

[Jazzy]

So... what if you don't get a permit? Can you protest against that?

Sure can if you want to get arrested.

 

[Jazzy]

Who gives the police the right and authority to accept and/or deny any protest any ways? :-/

The Mayor of my state grants them that authority.

 

[Jazzy]

Great question! If the cop you speak to about your protest has a personal reason for not liking your idea, can he deny your permit? 'Cuz that just isn't right.

I assume that could happen. I must say, however, I have never read or heard about any group having their protest permit denied. I'm not saying it couldn't happen or didn't happen, I just have no knowledge if it did. People around here are very vocal so odds are it would have hit the local media if they were denied.