A day of protests and arrests around North Carolina’s statehouse marked what’s likely to be weeks of impassioned debate over a law limiting protections for LGBT people.

Officers arrested 54 protesters who came to voice opposition to the law late Monday as legislators returned to start their session. The arrests capped a day of dueling demonstrations that also included thousands of people who gathered to praise the law.

Top elected Republican leaders in the state said they do not plan on repealing the law.

Read more at JETMAG.com.