Skeptic - as far as parades go, they are usually coordinated events and people who want to participate have to get permission from the city to do so. I think that's the case in most places. Every once in awhile it comes up in the news when a group is denied a permit for whatever reason. Marching in a parade, though, and protesting are not necessarily the same thing.

As far as people protesting on the street corner, I don't know that anyone has to have a permit for that. There may be city guidelines in regards to safety issues, etc., in some areas.

The inauguration was a coordinated event with a lot of high-ranking officials and as such, security/safety issues were a priority. I'm not sure, however, how the protesters thought W would see them from the back seat of a limo anyhow.

KFC