Several groups that have received protest permits attended Strength's meeting.

Several lawsuits have been filed against the city over requirements and procedures for protest permits, police arrest tactics and the penning-in and searching of protesters at demonstration sites.

After the protest march, participants were subject to police harassment in Hyde Park, following the revocation of the original protest permit.

They include, the complaint said, requiring that groups of as few as six people apply for protest permits and that protest organizers be prepared to cover the government's demonstration-related costs.

A protest permit or parade permit is permission granted by a governmental agency for a demonstration to be held in a particular venue at a particular time.

In early March 2004, Parks Department officials scrambled to make sure Mr. Bloomberg would be on their side in that debate in advance of a meeting he had called to discuss protest permits.

In early January 2008, protesters marched from the Minnesota State Capitol to the Xcel Energy Center in hopes of securing a protest permit.

They were arrested on suspicion of indecent exposure, disorderly conduct and violation of the terms of their protest permit.

His friend, a legal advocate from Fujian, stepped in to apply for protest permits and was reportedly escorted from the building and put into an unmarked Buick by several men, and also disappeared.

The Interior Ministry had cited concerns about violence in refusing to issue students a protest permit.