Eight Occupy Phoenix protesters got a rude awakening Friday night when they were arrested by Phoenix police.

Police said they arrested eight protesters, who witnesses said appeared to be sleeping despite loud cheering from other protesters, for illegal camping in Cesar Chavez Plaza. Police bagged up the campers' belongings for evidence and escorted them away peacefully.

A diverse group of 60 to 100 protesters gathered in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement Friday night at the plaza at First Avenue and Washington Street. Police cars were lined up and down Washington Street, but coverage dwindled down as the night progressed. By 9 p.m., only about a half-dozen police officers were monitoring the protest.

According to Phoenix code, it is illegal to use city property "for living accommodation purposes such as sleeping activities, or making preparations to sleep, including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping, or storing personal belongings, or making any fire, or using any tents or shelter or other structure or vehicle for sleeping or doing any digging or earth breaking or carrying on cooking activities.

"The above-listed activities constitute camping when it reasonably appears, in light of all the circumstances, that the participants, in conducting these activities, are in fact using the area for living accommodation purposes regardless of the intent of the participants or the nature of any other activities in which they may also be engaging."