BALTIMORE — Baltimore police disbanded an overnight occupation of City Hall by activists opposed to making the interim police commissioner’s appointment permanent, and at least 12 people could be seen being led away early Thursday to police vehicles.

At least 25 police officers converged at the building’s front entrance hours before dawn as activists were still inside participating in a sit-in over numerous demands for better policing. Several demonstrators could be seen by an Associated Press reporter as they were led off in plastic handcuffs and loaded into transport vehicles at around 4 a.m.

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom! We have nothing to lose but our chains!” others watching the police operation shouted at the officers.

Police said in a statement posted on their social media site that a small number of protesters had decided to leave after hours of warnings to the demonstrators.

“The remaining protesters refused to leave the building. As a direct result of their failure to comply, the remaining protesters have been arrested and charged with trespassing. There are no reported injuries at this time to any protesters or officers,” the police statement added.

Police did not elaborate on the number of people arrested or their identities. A message left for Baltimore Police Department spokesman T.J. Smith wasn’t immediately returned.

Following the police operation, police were seen leaving and the complex was largely quiet by 5 a.m.

Many of the protesters were student activists, including at least two juveniles who were taken into custody.

The protesters said they opposed city deliberations to make permanent the interim appointment of Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, adding they had been given no chance for input. The group also wanted a sit-down meeting with Davis and Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and refused to leave City Hall until city officials agreed to meet a list of demands that included better treatment for protesters, a significant investment in public schools and social services and a promise that police would avoid using armored vehicles and riot gear.

The protesters also asked that officers always wear badges and name tags.

After more than a dozen protesters were arrested, others left voluntarily but voiced their disappointment with the police response.

“All we are doing is peacefully demonstrating. We were disrespected by Kevin Davis. He didn’t take us seriously,” said Kevin Wellons, 19, who left the sit-in around 3:30 a.m. with several others.