COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--Twelve people were arrested after a protest over the US Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement spilled into the streets of downtown Columbus Monday morning.
The demonstrators were calling for the abolishing of the government agency, following the policy of separating children from their families at the US-Mexico border.
Part of Front Street, at Broad Street, had to be closed around 10AM, when a makeshift "tripod" was erected in the street. One man restrained himself to the bottom of one of the poles, and woman scaled to the top of the 30-foot structure.
Columbus Fire crews responded with a ladder truck to take the woman into custody. The tripod was then taken down, and the pieces were cut with a chainsaw.
Several other protesters were also taken into custody after going into the ICE office, in the LeVeque Tower, and refusing to leave.
After the protesters were asked to clear the street, the demonstration continued on the sidewalk in front of the ICE office.
Columbus Police confirm 5 people were arrested in the ICE office, and five arrests were made outside, with two summons.
The subjects arrested were mainly from Oregon, California, and Florida, with one arrest from Ohio (Athens County).
The protest was said to be organized by the groups "Earth First" and the "American Indian Movement of Ohio."
(photo courtesy ABC-6)