Detroit police arrest protesters at library sit-in. [View all]

[RandySF]

Police led at least two protestors away in handcuffs Thursday night from a sit-in protest designed to stop four branch closures of the Detroit Public Library.

Protestors began gathering outside the Lincoln branch on East Seven Milejust after 4:30 p.m. The branch, along with Mark Twain, Monteith and Richard, is set to permanently close Thursday because of budget cuts.

By nearly 6 p.m., about 30 people were outside Lincoln chanting, while another 11 were inside. Five squad cars stood guard nearby the protest organized by the group By Any Means Necessary.

Occupy Detroit organizers also posted to their website asking members to gather outside Lincoln before 5:30 p.m. Another protest is planned outside Monteith on Kercheval at 5 p.m.

Donna Stern, an organizer for the group By Any Means Necessary, said the closures would "further erode the neighborhoods."

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20111222/METRO/112220477/1409/metro/Police-arrest-protesters-sit-Detroit-library-branch