I think the entire spirit of protesting was castrated with the notion of getting permits (or permission) to engage in the act of speaking freely. The only permission you need is the first amendment, and that's not even really permission it just illustrates or defines your natural rights. Basically, they hijack your natural rights and try to pretend it's commercial activity. This, with the underlying threat that you'll be charged with demonstrating without a permit. Demonstrating, like demonstrating a commercial product.