[Desdemona]

You do not need a permit to be on the sidewalk. That’s public property. Take it from a guy who’s handed out free literature on the sidewalks and has had to talk to cops about it.

In some states, like Missouri, you have to leave the sidewalks clear. Tree lawns, OTOH are fair game.

If I ever do the protest thing, my sign is going to say "Desdemona's wish list: hot tub, Bombay and olives."

[LinnKeyes2000]

odd, MO is where I was doing much of my ‘free religious lit’ handouts - downtown sidewalks of STL in particular. Even passed out lit to cops. Nobody said anything.

but it’s still fun to have them show you which city statute
is preventing you from handing out free literature. “Show
me the ordinance and I’ll leave ...”

[LinnKeyes2000]

also, we never prevented anyone from passing. I think
if we did, then there would have been an issue. Since
traffic was allowed to flow, it was no different than
two people talking on the sidewalk.