Oregon Public Broadcasting

Small groups of demonstrators will no longer need special permits to stage events in national parks and monuments.

The National Park Service announced a change in policy Thursday to comply with a court ruling.

In August, the federal appeals court in Washington D.C. largely upheld a National Parks Service policy.

That requires groups of 25 or more to get a permit to demonstrate on park grounds. But the court said individuals and smaller groups do not need formal permission to exercise their free speech rights.

The agency has now decided to go along with the ruling. And so, says Parks Service spokesman David Barna, visitors can say what they want, as long as they do it within so-called "free speech zones."

David Barna: “You can just show up and do your demonstration and protest in the designated areas in any national park nationwide.”

Gene Policinski from the First Amendment Center in Nashville, Tennessee says the new rules implement the compromise laid out by the courts.

Gene Policinski: “I thought it split the needs of the park and the needs of all of us and the protection for our free speech rights in a very good way.”

The agency’s decision has been published in the Federal Register and will take effect in December.