Okay, I tried finding out about the permit and was sent down a spiral of bureaucratic insanity! I ended up being transferred or referred to 6 city offices, getting full voicemail boxes, dealing with inept bureaucrats who thought I was calling on behalf of the anti-war crowd and more fun stuff. Our taxpayer dollars at work! Needless to say, it wasn't much fun.
In the end, it turns out that I needed to talk to the office I first called (isn't that always the way?). It's the SFPD Permit office and the number is 553-1115. The information I got was incomplete and didn't make much sense, but here goes. First someone there told me that we didn't need a permit if we didn't have amplified sound (bullhorns are okay). But the last person I talked to there said that we "couldn't do it." I asked if that meant we needed a permit. She said they wouldn't grant us a permit at the same time and place (even though we're meeting an hour earlier) as the other event.
I simply can't believe that a small group of protesters can't meet at the same larger event as the others. This doesn't make any sense to me, but that's city government for ya! My only conclusion is that we just go ahead with our plans and if they kick us out, we'll head off down Van Ness. Or if anyone else wants to take a crack at it, feel free. Keep your blood pressure medicine nearby!
Sorry all, but I tried!
STL
FYI - At one FReep, where we were at the Civic Center across from the Plaza in front of another building, we didn't have a permit (there were only a few of us) but, the police told us we couldn't go ON the Plaza (I think as a group) because the Lefties had a permit for the WHOLE plaza and for sound. (And when we had a bullhorn at another FReep, we were told we could not use it while their speakers were speaking.)
Hopefully, the surrounding sidewalks will be free. Guess we'll find out. : )
(And, you're right, IMO, it's not the same time and place - different time, different sidewalk.)
Thanks again STL! Good job! : )