The link that you posted is repulsive and completely unreliable. In fact, it is a great way to prove the left right.
And I now believe that at least some of the counter protesters had a permit. Whether they should have been allowed to protest on a small street is another matter.
They did. The local authorities expected about 2:1 advantage by numbers, and also sought to relocate the protest to a larger venue, to facilitate "keepinmg the peace." A federal judge blocked changing the venue.