About 100 protesters demonstrated outside City Hall Monday evening, some clashing with Toronto police.

The demonstrators are part of Toronto Stop the Cuts Network. They were trying to get inside where councillors were debating, then later passing the 2012 operating budget.

“We’re not trying to be violent, we’re not trying to hurt people, we’re just trying to exercise our  rights to be in there watching what’s going on while Ford’s cutting things like homeless shelters and our libraries and all these necessary services,” said protester Kevin.

Toronto Police have confirmed four people were taken into custody during the protest.

“I saw about three or four people, I’m not sure, there could have been more, actually get pulled out of the crowd and pulled down onto the ground and arrested...I heard that there was pepper spray,” said witness Katie Arnup.

As the budget meeting adjourned, councillors were warned not to exit from the front doors, for safety reasons.

After the budget was passed and meeting finished, the protesters moved to Toronto police 52 division, where the four suspects were being held.

Toronto police tell CityNews four men in their 20s have been charged with obstructing a peace officer and unlawful assembly.