26 Sep 05 Abridging the Redress of Grievances

“Congress shall make no law [...] abridging the freedom of speech, [...] or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

— Amendment I, U.S. Constitution

“Cindy Sheehan, the California woman who became a leader of the anti-war movement following her son’s death in Iraq, was arrested Monday [...] Sgt. Scott Fear, spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, said they would be charged with demonstrating without a permit.”

— Associated Press, September 26, 2005

“O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?”

— Francis Scott Key, 1914

Why does one need a permit from the Government in order to speak freely, assemble peacefully, and petition it for a redress of grievances — when the very first addition to the Constitution guarantees us this right?

I really don’t understand. When did this become accepted practice? How is this not the clearest case of “abridging” the right to peaceful assembly and the petition of a Government for the redress of grievances?