Albany police officers toppled a protest camp that had grown over days outside one of their police stations and made several arrests in an ongoing feud with demonstrators that ended in a simmering standoff on Thursday night. 

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins ordered the end of what he said was an "unlawful occupation" by protesters camped for days outside the Albany Police Department's Thursday afternoon.

Protesters say they were given 15 minutes warning before their encampment was broken up. Eight people were arrested and some being detained, according to police.

But many returned not long after, saying protests would continue. 

Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins says while the protest was peaceful, the removal was done because of the obstruction of access to a public safety building the community relies on.

"One thing this was not tonight was an assault on First Amendment rights," Hawkins said at a press conference Thursday night. "In fact, what we did was carve out a place for those who want to lawfully and peacefully exercise their right to do so."

Protestors say they are prepared to stay at the site as long as they need to.

The protest at South Station stemmed from incidents that occurred last Wednesday, when activists marched to the station and clashed with police officers.

Police say that people in the crowd attempted to break into the station and broke a window. An officer sprayed the crowd with pepper spray. Protesters accused police officers of escalating the situation. Days later, they built a small camp outside the station, and have been calling on at least one police officer to resign, along with changes to policing in the city.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan said Thursday afternoon that she fully supported Hawkins’ decision to end the protest while providing space for safe and peaceful protests.

"We have allowed these protestors to express their First Amendment rights for several days, however, their protest escalated to camping in the street, damaging taxpayer property and starting open fires, all violations of the city code," Sheehan said.

She said that she shared feedback with the chief from nearby residents, including many seniors, who are "expressing fear for their safety and describing the negative impacts this unlawful occupation has had on their ability to access community resources." The city will continue to provide safe space for protesters to assemble, Sheehan said.  

But protesters say they aren’t going anywhere. Just days after Derek Chauvin’s conviction in the murder of George Floyd, they feel they can’t celebrate.

"This is how we feel," Figuereo said. "We can’t be happy for two seconds. We knew it wasn’t real. We knew it wasn’t real."