Nora Mishanec reports for Columbia-Greene Media that the village of Kinderhook announced July 17, all organized rallies or protests will first require organizers to seek the permission of village officials. “As of today, the village of Kinderhook is requiring that all uses of the village square require the submission of an application for the use of village property,” Dunham wrote in an email to village residents. Prior approval is needed to avoid conflicts with “previously approved uses of the village square,” including the Saturday farmers market, Mayor James Dunham said. Kinderhook Village Square was the scene of a Black Lives Matter rally July 11 and a Back the Blue rally June 18, organized by resident Alex Rosenstrach. Dunham said the village has always put state police and the Columbia County Sheriff's Office on notice about planned events, but there was "never a need" for law enforcement until two white residents of the village brandished their firearms at participants in the July 11 rally. “This is to keep things safe and peaceful,” he said. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.