Minneapolis police arrested eight people this morning as they cleared the Black Lives Matter protest site at the city’s 4th Precinct police headquarters at 4 a.m.

Officials called it a public safety issue. Black Lives Matter leaders have called for a 4 p.m. rally at City Hall in response. But police officials said they must leave that building when it closes and not begin another encampment.

The protesters had been camping out at the 4th Precinct for two weeks, demanding more information about the November police shooting of Jamar Clark.

About 100 protesters were on the scene when police closed the camp and set up barriers.

Afterwards, Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau said the protesters were ordered to disperse several times, and seven were arrested for obstructing legal process and one for trespassing.

“We allowed them to leave on their own, to just move outside the perimeter, and not everybody left,” she said.

And Mayor Betsy Hodges said: “We have been balancing the safety needs of the precinct with the right for people to protest and have their voices be heard. But the increasing safety risks and impact on the neighborhood, the impact on our ability to provide services in the city, made this morning the time to do that.”