“If the State converts a right (liberty) into a privilege, the citizen can ignore the license and fee and engage in the right (liberty) with impunity.” (Shuttlesworth v. City of Birmingham, Alabama, 373 U.S. 262)
Unless of course you want to stage a protest, whereby you will need to purchase a "permit" and get approval from any number of city councils or other city ordinance officers.
IOW, to practice your free speech you will have to pay up. OR show up in droves like BLM or Antifa and not worry about those silly permits.