26 arrests made as climate activists protest at JPMorgan Chase banks, police say

SEATTLE -- Twenty-six people were arrested Monday when climate activists opposed to oil pipeline projects demonstrated at several JPMorgan Chase banks, with some blocking entrances to the buildings or going inside and refusing to leave, police said.

The protesters were calling on the bank not to do business with TransCanada, the company pushing for the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Several protesters earlier stood in front of teller windows and told customers the bank was closed. A police sergeant gave the group a few warnings to leave before officers moved in to make arrests.

Later, the Seattle Police Department said it had received 911 calls from multiple Chase bank branches, indicating the protesters were blocking bank entrances or were inside and refusing to leave.

"Several groups of demonstrators at banks in the East, North and West precincts informed officers that they wanted to be arrested," Seattle police said in a news release. "They were then taken into custody for trespassing, pedestrian interference or obstruction, based on the circumstances, and will be booked into the King County Jail."

Several dozen protesters sang, chanted and drummed both inside and outside other bank locations.