Yes, I think protest permits are bullshit infringements and cowardly impediments to free speech and assembly under the First, too. But, don't diss the Capitol Police on this. It was very mild mannered and civil. They just briefly cuffed and wrote up people - who actually stood on line to come up to the cops to be arrested. All the protesters were released either on site or nearby the same day. This is everyday routine for the CPD any time a sit in or other peaceful demonstration happens where the intent is to get arrested for better news coverage. CPD actually helped the protesters to get media coverage, even though it was involuntary as they were just doing their jobs. The cops cited typical shit like lack of permit, blocking pedestrian and/or vehicle access, failure to comply with a police order to move, etc. They've done the exact same thing with religious protesters and tea party protesters and you name it protesters who held their demonstrations in the same place and manner.