Anyone in the US, unless restricted by local or county code , can stand on public land, and peacefully protest, expressing their opinions. Somehow I do believe that the protesters have individually managed to break many different laws, mostly against the neighbors, which they will have to take them to civil court for. I also believe that they have probably broken a few city codes. The problem being that Cities do not like to impede the media in anyway their right to a free press. If they crack down on the code violations of the protesters then they will also have to crack down on the numerous sat. trucks from many different news agencies, up and down that street, that you probably have not seen. The city will not want to try to fight the media.
We have the right to peaceful assembly. We have the right to express our opinons. I love being an American. Sometimes we have to defend people's rights, that we don't like, to do things, we don't agree with, just so that we are also able to enjoy these freedoms down the line.
Have you seen the movie V for Vendetta? I think you might enjoy it.