PHOTOS: Dozens of Protesters, Including Cornel West, Arrested After Breaching Police Barricade at Downtown St. Louis Courthouse

Several protestors including activist and professor Cornel West were arrested Monday afternoon after they broke past police barricades and sat down in front of a St. Louis courthouse.

Lisa Brown, a reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, posted on Twitter that more than 50 protesters jumped the barricade and linked arms in front of the courthouse.

Police have barricaded Eagleton courthouse as #Ferguson demonstrators arrive pic.twitter.com/PrJtQ74fxO

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

30+ protestors have jumped police barricade; they're linking arms, police telling them they will be arrested pic.twitter.com/mel7ijZidy

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

St. Louis police now arresting dozens of #Ferguson protestors blocking downtown federal courthouse pic.twitter.com/Jf1Sqk1XTi

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

#Protesters continue to chant while police arrest those who jumped fence, sat down in front of courthouse doors. pic.twitter.com/KboFv4Q0ww

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

Many protestors arrested blocking courthouse are clergy, including Rabbi Susan Talve of Central Reform Congregation pic.twitter.com/lBUIwSv0BL

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

.@Nettaaaaaaaa in custody pic.twitter.com/EQgAaA33ld

— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 10, 2015

Both @deray and @Nettaaaaaaaa have been arrested. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/KX6LhimCiy

— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 10, 2015

.@Nettaaaaaaaa tweeted this before she was arrested: https://t.co/1OP6iSOFLO

— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly)

August 10, 2015

Dr. Cornel West just arrested in St.Louis, Mo #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/oT1d5UR5dS

— C.Ferguson (@cfergie111) August 10, 2015

Protestors now heading east on Market Street toward Arch. pic.twitter.com/TyDQb3tupF

— Lisa Brown (@LisaBrownSTL) August 10, 2015

According to a report from MSNBC, the protesters wanted to be arrested for their "civil disobedience" and to "fill the city jail."

The St. Louis courthouse is federal property, so those arrested would face federal charges.

Gunfire erupted Sunday night during demonstrations in Ferguson marking one year since unarmed black man Michael Brown was fatally shot by a white police officer. During the demonstrations, protesters shouted, "We're ready for war!"

A state of emergency was formally declared Monday in St. Louis.

(H/T: Mediaite)