Police arrested about a dozen people protesting outside a Peabody Energy shareholders meeting Thursday morning in the latest demonstration targeting the St. Louis-based coal mining giant.

Chanting "coal is not the future, keep it in the ground," a group of about 50 protesters gathered across the street from the entrance of the Ritz-Carlton in Clayton. Guarding the doors were about 15 officers from the Clayton Police Department, who made sure the protesters didn't disrupt the shareholders' business inside the hotel.

Officers flanked side entrances, and after about an hour, several St. Louis County Police officers showed up.

Protesters then tried to cross the street to enter the hotel but were blocked by officers, who arrested several as they tried to pass through the police line.

Protesters said they had several members of their group make it inside the meeting. At least two people were escorted out of the building in police custody during the demonstration.

Clayton Police Captain Stewart Glenn said 12 to 14 people were arrested. They will likely receive municipal trespassing charges, he said.

Peabody released a statement shortly after police made several arrests.