A more thorough explanation:

Parade permits are rules made by local governments that control how parades can be held. These rules have been a big issue for free speech laws. The Supreme Court has made some decisions about what these rules must follow:

• Freedman v. Maryland: The state must prove why a permit should be denied, and the decision must be reviewed by a judge quickly.
• Shuttlesworth v. City of Birmingham: The rules for getting a permit must be clear and not based on the opinions of the authorities.
• Forsyth County v. Nationalist Movement: The cost of a permit cannot be higher for parades that might cause trouble. The rules for getting a permit must not be based on the content of the parade. The cost of a permit must be written in the law and not decided by the person in charge.
• Thomas v. Chicago Park District: The rules from Freedman only apply to permits that are based on the content of the parade.
• Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of Stratton: The person getting the permit can stay anonymous.

For example, if a group wants to have a parade, the government cannot just say no without a good reason. The rules for getting a permit must be clear and not based on what the government thinks of the parade. The cost of the permit cannot be higher just because the parade might cause trouble. The person getting the permit can stay anonymous if they want to.