PORTLAND, Ore. -- Eleven protesters were arrested during a health reform sit-in after demonstrators blocked entrances to a health insurance company's building.

The front door of the Regence Blue Cross building at 100 Market St. was blocked Thursday morning and people were directed to another entrance. Sitting demonstrators then blocked that door.

Insurance company workers then called police.

A sergeant gave the demonstrators options and waited for more officers. After two and a half hours, the protesters who didn't move were peacefully arrested.

The protesters said they want a single-payer health care system, comparable to the Medicare system for seniors. They criticized insurance companies for profiting from health care.

"(Health insurance) is a right, not a privilege. And the way the structure of our health care system is, at this point, it's based on if you can afford it, you can have it. Or, if you get sick enough, you can have health care," said Dawnette McCloud, a nurse and protester.

One protester said that Regence Blue Cross was targeted because it is the biggest health insurance company with headquarters in downtown Portland.

"We don't really know why they're targeting us. I think they picked the wrong target because we're a nonprofit," said Angela Hult, with Regence Blue Cross. "We respect their right to freedom of speech. What became troubling was when they began blocking access to our building."

The protesters were taken to jail and are scheduled to appear in court Friday on trespassing charges.

Protesters Arrested At Health Care Reform Sit-In