40 Seattle cops arrest woman for sitting down, opening umbrella

About 40 police officers were needed to arrest a single woman who sat down and opened an umbrella in a Seattle park this morning, according to local media.

Amid the ongoing "Occupy Seattle" protest, city officials decided to ban sitting down with umbrellas in public spaces, ostensibly because they become "makeshift structures," which are forbidden.

In a scene from earlier today, a single woman, who identified herself as Debra Lynn Peardon, put that law to the test, opening an umbrella and sitting down on the ground.

That's when, according to Seattle blog The Slog, "40 police officers surrounded" the woman. With her hands bound, at least four officers then carried her out by her arms and legs, with protesters all the while chanting, "Show me what oppression looks like? This is what oppression looks like!"

Video of the arrest also appeared to show an officer ramming a bicycle into an individual who filmed the arrest, sparking a confrontation.

In all, at least seven people were arrested in Seattle on Monday morning as police moved in to evict protesters from Westlake Park, according to the Seattle Police Department. Although they're only allowed to stand, protesters have vowed to keep a constant presence at the site.

Seattle police last week were also seen giving tickets to drivers who honked in support of "Occupy" protesters.

Apart from Seattle, "Occupy" protests have also sprung up all across Washington state, in Vancouver, Tacoma, Olympia, Yakima and Spokane, according to CBS News.

The video below was published to YouTube on Monday, Oct. 17, 2011.