Authorities say 12 people have been arrested while protesting a police conference in Baltimore.

Dozens of protesters gathered Sunday outside a hotel, where the Maryland Fraternal Order of Police is holding its biennial conference this week.

The Baltimore Police Department said in a statement that several of the protesters entered the hotel, chained themselves to a railing and blocked the escalator. Police say the protesters were arrested and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave.

The protest comes days after the U.S. Justice Department released a report that said Baltimore police routinely discriminate against blacks and repeatedly use excessive force.

Baltimore Bloc is among the activist groups that organize the protest. It says in a statement that the Fraternal Order of Police prioritizes legal protection of their officers over justice.