Former Don Dale detainee Dylan Voller has been released after he, his mother and six others were arrested by police at a rally in Alice Springs.

They were protesting on Friday against youth detention and deaths in custody at a busy intersection on the Stuart Highway.

Mr Voller's sister Kirra said he and their mother, Joanne, were pushed to the ground and placed into paddy wagons.

Police said eight people, between the ages of 14 and 47, were arrested for obstructing traffic and disorderly conduct.

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Police said investigations were ongoing and it was expected all offenders would be released tonight, pending being served with infringement notices for obstructing traffic and disorderly conduct.

Earlier, in a Facebook live from inside the police watch house in Alice Springs Mr Voller apologised to his sister, Kirra.

"Sorry for putting you under stress," he said.

"I guess I'll just have to go back and do my time, take it on the chin.

"This is my f*** up, this is my f*** up and I'll take it, but I didn't get locked up for nothing.

"Black lives matter ... more importantly justice for Elijah [Doughty].

Dylan Voller, his mother and others were arrested at a rally in Alice Springs. ( Supplied: Else Kennedy )

Elijah Doughty, 14, was killed when he was run over in Kalgoorlie in August 2016, sparking protests and riots in the town.

In July, the driver responsible for the boy's death was jailed for three years which also caused public protests across the country including New South Wales, Melbourne, Alice Springs and Perth.

"They can lock people up for a peaceful protest and put them away, but what are they going to do to the ... old white racist people when they kill our young brothers and sisters? Nothing."

Else Kennedy was videoing the protest and said the peaceful rally turned violent when police tried to move people off the road.

"They were quite rough in their handling of people," she said.

"At that point people were pushed off the road [and] six people were arrested.

"In the scuffle a camera person who was filming one of the arrests was knocked to the ground and was then kicked by a police officer."

NT Police have been contacted for comment.

Voller centre of Don Dale controversy

Dylan Voller was at the heart of a Four Corners investigation revealing abuse against youth in NT detention. ( 783 ABC Alice by Tom Maddocks )

Mr Voller came to national attention last year when he was shown tied to a restraint chair in a Four Corners episode on youth detention in the Northern Territory.

The episode resulted in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announcing a Royal Commission into the detention centres the next day.

The Royal Commission into Youth Detention and Protection began hearing evidence at the end of 2016 and a final report from commissioners Mick Gooda and Margaret White is expected in November.

Since the episode aired, a number of former detainees, including Voller, have also brought lawsuits against the Northern Territory Government seeking compensation for alleged mistreatment while in jail.