The First Amendment Assemblies Act sets forth the District of Columbia's policy with regard to expressive public gatherings. It defines a First Amendment assembly as “a demonstration, rally, parade, march, picket line, or other similar gathering conducted for the purpose of persons expressing their political, social, or religious views.”
D.C.Code § 5–331.02(1). Persons and groups have a right to organize and participate in “peaceful First Amendment assemblies” on the streets and sidewalks of the District of Columbia “and to engage in First Amendment assembly near the object of their protest.”
D.C.Code § 5–331.03. Furthermore, persons who are engaged in such an assembly are not required to “give notice to, or obtain a permit or plan from, the Chief of Police, the Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, or any other District official or agency as a prerequisite for
selling demonstration-related merchandise within ... an assembly covered by subsection (d) of this section.”
D.C.Code § 5–331.05(h) (emphasis added). Assemblies covered by subsection (d) include those where “[t]he assembly will take place on public sidewalks and crosswalks and will not prevent other pedestrians from using the sidewalks and crosswalks.”
D.C.Code § 5–331.05(d)(1).