A protest permit is issued when the government gives permission to an organization to protest in a certain place at a certain time.
The practice of requiring a protest permit is highly controversial and is seen by many as a basic contradiction to fundamental rights like the freedom of assembly, association and speech. A protest permit gives the government the power to prohibit protests that challenge governmental authority.
The government justifies the practice of requiring a protest permit in places such as a public highway, park or public building by citing public safety concerns. If a demonstration is likely to disrupt automobile traffic, for example, the government may be concerned with the safety of everyone on the premises.
Requiring a permit allows the government some measure of control over demonstrations. Free speech advocates like the ACLU and PEN America are concerned that the government abuses protest-permitting powers to silence dissent and criminalize opposition.