The First Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, police and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. This guide describes specific protest rights, including the following. Your rights are strongest in what are known as “traditional public forums,” such as streets, sidewalks, and parks. You don’t need a permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks, as long as marchers don’t obstruct car or pedestrian traffic. Shutting down a protest through a dispersal order must be law enforcement’s last resort. When you are lawfully present in any public space, you have the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. When you can, write down everything you remember, including the officers' badge and patrol car numbers and the agency they work for.