Sheriff's deputies arrested State Assemblymember David Gantt and activists Ray Scott and Franklin Florence during protests at the County Office Building this morning, and a crowd of protestors was marching to the Public Safety Building in protest.

The arrests came at a meeting of the County Legislature's Public Safety Committee, which was to discuss the selection of a new Monroe County public defender. Critics, including Democraticd legislators, have pushed for a broad search by a non-partisan committee that would include public representations, but Republican legislators have rejected that call.

This morning's committee meeting, which drew a large crowd of protesters, got off to a noisy, contentious start. At the beginning of the meeting, Republicans on the Public Safety Committee moved that the committee go into executive session. Shouting broke out, Democrats tried to offer a motion opposing the executive session, and the meeting broke up into separate caucuses of Republicans and Democrats.

As Democrats returned to the Legislature Chambers and Republicans continued their caucus meeting, a large crowd stayed in the Chambers singing "We Shall Overcome," and people the hallway outside chanted "No Justice, No Peace." Florence, Scott, and Gantt attempted to meet with members of the Republican caucus, but Public Safety Committee Chair Mike Barker refused, Franklin told the crowd. Franklin also said that he had been told that the people in the Legislature Chambers would be arrested if they didn't leave.

As Gantt, Florence, and Scott were led away, deputies told people remaining in the Legislature Chambers, including the media, to leave the room.