A get-out-the-vote rally in Graham, North Carolina, ended Saturday after police officers reportedly pepper-sprayed and arrested the participants. Videos of the incident were broadcasted online as witnesses took to Twitter to describe and remark on what they saw.

Saturday’s demonstration took place outside Alamance County’s Courthouse, where organizers emphasized the importance of early voting and marched in remembrance of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement. The Graham Police Department reported that they made eight arrests and began pepper-spraying demonstrators after they failed to disperse from courthouse grounds. Protestors and reports have said that the officers gave no warning before acting.

Democratic Governor Roy Cooper said later described that the event was unacceptable, denouncing voter intimidation in any form. As the election approaches, tensions are expected to escalate further in this key battleground state.