CINCINNATI -- Starting Monday, those who plan to verbally panhandle on Cincinnati streets need a license.

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Some say it will help reduce aggressive behavior, while others contend the measure will further stigmatize the poor, WLWT Eyewitness News 5's John London reported Monday.

The strategy will play out over the summer, as hundreds of people who aren't panhandlers will register as panhandlers. Protesters hope to expose the new law for what they say it is -- an attack on free speech, London reported.

In the first few hours Monday, there were more protesters than panhandlers, London reported. At the Elm Street Health Center, eight signed up, including longtime social activist John Zeh. Each got a copy of the application, an informational form and a picture taken by health counselor Mike Shyrock.

"This is all new to us, so we weren't sure how it would go," Shyrock said Monday morning. "But it's gone very well so far."

Zeh disagreed.

"It's totally unnecessary," he said. "There's already a law for aggressive panhandlers and for the crimes that they might commit to harass someone." Zeh said he believes the registration process will further bloat bureaucracy.

Homeless Coalition spokeswoman Georgine Getty said she thinks her organization's effort is necessary.

"I just really hope that in the kind of circus that surrounds this, that people who need to be reached are really being reached," she said.

Trying to sort out who's legitimate and who's merely protesting is not something the Elm Street Health Clinic is trying to do. It appears that anybody could register, London reported.

And in a local election year, the new panhandling law seems destined to be a campaign issue of class struggle, according to one protester.

"The City Council members are gonna be out on the street aggressively panhandling to get money for their campaigns," activist Dan La Botz said. "That's the real panhandling problem."

By the end of the afternoon, about 50 had registered as panhandlers, most of whom were protesters, London reported.

Please follow WLWT Eyewitness News 5 and ChannelCincinnati.com for updates to this story as they become available.