Police say arrests "last thing we wanted to do"

- 2000, Tallahassee, Florida: Two black lawmakers protesting Republican Gov. Jeb Bush's repeal of state affirmative action policies refuse to leave the office of Florida's lieutenant governor, Frank Brogan. "As a direct result of their failure to comply, the remaining protesters have been ", a police statement added.

While a few supporters testified to his effectiveness, protestors used their time at the microphone to raise questions about Davis' ability to lead a police force whose officers were charged with Freddie Gray's death and is meant to protect and serve a city reporting a sharp increase in murders in 2015. Now the mayor has nominated Kevin Davis to carry the full responsibilities as commissioner.

Police officials could not be reached immediately for comment on their activities at City Hall and whether they had confirmed anyone was formally taken into custody.

"It is clear that since Kevin Davis took office as interim Police Commissioner there has been a heightened aggression from law enforcement towards protesters", the coalition of Baltimore activists groups wrote in a letter to Davis and Rawlings-Blake posted on Tumblr prior to the vote. The municipal building was largely quiet by 5 a.m. following several hours of intense chants.

"I'd like to propose this to you, because we can accomplish a lot more at a table where we can all fit", he said.

Davis' appointment was approved by the committee amid the protests, though a full vote before the city council is needed before he is confirmed.

Kwame Rose, an organizer who had been with the group for hours, also left with several others before police moved in. At least 30 protesters were still there after midnight and most did not disperse until after 3 a.m., according to the Baltimore Sunday.

A City Council subcommittee voted to make Davis the permanent police commissioner. Frustrated at being ignored, the activists refused to leave, in a protest that took police eight hours to break up.

Hayes says police are guarding a door to an upper balcony of the main City Council chamber where the protesters are located. The city's Board of Estimates must also approve Davis' contract.

A City Council subcommittee voted Thursday to make Davis the permanent police commissioner.

This report contains material from The Associated Press.

One of them was 36-year-old Lawrence Brown.

"They've chosen not to meet with protesters, not address their demands, but instead chose to arrest them under the cloak of darkness", Grandpre said.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, the protestors were present at the council's Appropriations committee hearing.

Davis assumed his interim role in July after his predecessor, Anthony Batts, was sacked amidst the upheaval. The spike followed unrest and rioting in April prompted by the death of Freddie Gray, a black man who died after suffering a critical injury in police custody.

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