Demonstrators say a dozen people protesting the holding of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have been arrested at a historic New York federal courthouse.

A release by the group Witness against Torture said the arrests occurred Monday during the demonstration for prisoners at the U.S. military base in Cuba. Some protesters on Centre Street wore orange jumpsuits and black hoods, holding signs with names of men who have died in U.S. custody at the prison.

The group said protesters wanted to draw attention to 84 men at Guantanamo who are on a hunger strike. That’s more than half of the 166 Guantanamo prisoners. Those arrested were given desk appearance tickets, charged with creating a disturbance.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the demonstrators were arrested when they refused to relocate.

(AP)