Colorado state police arrested 23 people early this morning, hours after officers began forcibly evicting protesters from the “Occupy Denver” camp in front of the state’s capitol.

Individuals arrested were facing likely charges of “unlawful conduct on public land,” according to The Denver Post. Several others were being charged with assault and impeding traffic.

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The video below shows the scene from the early hours of Friday morning.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) claimed on Thursday morning that the police action was needed to ensure the protesters’ health and safety. Following the eviction, police said they plan to maintain a constant presence in the park to prevent protesters from returning.

Protesters have since taken their demonstration to the sidewalks surrounding the park, which are administered by the city.

The video below is from The Denver Post, published Friday, Oct. 14, 2011.