§326. Processions, marches, parades, or demonstrations; permits; liability; bond; exemptions; penalty

            A. Any procession, march, parade or public demonstration of any kind or for whatever purpose is prohibited by any group, association or organization on any public sidewalk, street, highway, bridge, alley, road or other public passageway of any municipality or unincorporated town or village unless there first has been obtained a permit therefor, and in all cases the person or persons or the group, association or organization to whom the permit is issued shall be liable for all damage to property or persons which may arise out of or in connection with any such procession, march, parade or public demonstration for which a permit is issued.

            B. Application for the permit required herein shall be made to the mayor and governing authority of the municipality or to the governing authority of the parish in which the unincorporated town or village in which the procession, march, parade or public demonstration is located, as the case may be. Permits may be granted by the authority to which application is made, provided, however, that bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars has first been filed with the mayor and municipal governing authority or with parish governing authority, as the case may be, as security for the payment of any damage or injury which may occur as the result of or in connection with such procession, march, parade or public demonstration.

            C. The provisions of this Section shall apply to all groups, associations, or organizations regardless of race, creed, disability, as defined in R.S. 51:2232, color, or political beliefs of its members; however, nothing contained herein shall apply to a bona fide legitimate labor organization or professional firefighter or police association or to any lawful activity of a labor union permitted by law, nor shall these provisions apply to any procession or parade directly held or sponsored by the governing authority of any municipality or the governing authority of any parish, nor shall these provisions apply to any procession, march, or parade directly held or sponsored by a bona fide organization specifically for the celebration of Mardi Gras and/or directly related prelenten or carnival festivities, school parades or other functions, parish parades or other functions, state, parish, or municipal fairs or other such related activities. However, the provisions of this Section shall apply only to parishes with a population of more than four hundred fifty thousand.

            D. Whoever violates any provision of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall, for each offense, be fined not more than one thousand dollars or be imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

            Acts 1964, No. 266, §§1 to 4; Acts 1993, No. 672, §1; Acts 1993, No. 820, §2; Acts 1999, No. 1131, §1, eff. July 9, 1999.