LOWER MANHATTAN, NY — A peaceful protest at Foley Square against the Dakota Access Pipeline, an under-construction oil pipeline that would run from North Dakota to Illinois through Native American territory, had grown to include around 2,000 protesters by 6 p.m., some of whom banded together to block the street in front of the federal court building, witnesses told Patch. That's when the New York City Police Department (NYPD) began making arrests.

One of the protesters, Naila Smith, said she watched more than a dozen of her peers — including elderly women — detained for apparently "standing or walking into areas the police don't like." Candace Bryan, a freelance writer at the scene, said she saw nearly 40 people detained.

#noDAPL protesters blocking the street right now in protesting, chanting "Water is life!" pic.twitter.com/hNW7XgboWQ

— OccupyExistence (@Occupy_Exist) November 15, 2016 Arrests are being made #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/yA1KAdasy8

— Candace Bryan (@cantdancebryan) November 15, 2016 As is standard, the NYPD's press office would not immediately confirm any arrests were being made at the demonstration. "We are aware that there's a protest," a police spokesman said. "As for arrests... try back later." (We'll update this post with the arrest numbers when we have them.)



But "the roadway is blocked by the police vans first," she said via text message. "They've shut the side of the street down....where they are making arrests!"

#Foleysquare #NoDapl #NyC #WaterIsLife pic.twitter.com/KgT81JK8uC

— Tiff (@BlackLoveSong) November 15, 2016 Around 7:30 p.m., the remaining protesters marched a few blocks south to NYPD headquarters at 1 Police Plaza, where they continued protesting and showing support for their friends who'd been detained.

NYPD trying to repress NYC rally in solidarity with #StandingRock as they march to do #JailSupport for arrested comrades! #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/hV09hgZbtO

— Ash J (@AshAgony) November 16, 2016 The Dakota Access Pipeline opposition movement, #NoDAPL for short, has gained significant steam in the past few weeks, even as Donald Trump's freak appointment to the White House has consumed the nation's consciousness.

Here's what they want, according to NYC organizers on Facebook: