The Latest: Arrests made at protest of private prison firm

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Latest on protests at CoreCivic (all times local):

1 p.m.

Police have begun arresting protesters who are blocking the entrances to the headquarters of private prison operator CoreCivic.

The Tennessee-based company is one of the nation's largest private prison operators and also runs eight immigration detention centers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The No Exceptions Prison Collective wants all those facilities closed.

One protester was seated in a large tripod made with logs Monday, resting on swing-like seat dangling about 25 feet up in the air. Police had not gotten her down yet. Others connected their arms through large barrels and metal pipes.

Officers began arresting some demonstrators in the late morning. The Rev. Jeannie Alexander went limp as officers carried her into a police van.

CoreCivic says the activists are distorting the company's role in immigration detention.

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10 a.m.

Police are standing by for now as several dozen demonstrators block entrances to the headquarters of CoreCivic.

The Tennessee-based company is one of the nation's largest private prison operators and also runs eight immigration detention centers for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The No Exceptions Prison Collective wants all those facilities closed.

The Rev. Jeannie Alexander told The Tennessean that they arrived about 5 a.m. Monday, setting up tents and replacing company flags with their own flag, which says "No Borders."

A CoreCivic statement says activists are distorting the company's role in immigration detention with "wrong and politically motivated" information shared by special interest groups.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com