Naomi Wolf
© Photo / supplied to Herald on SundayNaomi Wolf was arrested as she went to defend those participating in the Occupy protest.

It's not just the little people being arrested during the Occupy protests in New York, Denver, Boston and across the world.

Author Naomi Wolf yesterday joined the group of those who have been handcuffed during this month of demonstrations against economic inequality and perceived injustice.

New York City police arrested Wolf after she attended an awards ceremony thrown by the Huffington Post at New York's Skylight Studios, the Guardian reports.

The ceremony was held to honour New York state governor, Andrew Cuomo. Wolf, who is a HuffPost contributor, was one of many celebrities to attend the event.

TIME reports that about 50 protesters gathered outside the event because Cuomo's position on taxing the wealthy has made him unpopular with most Occupy protesters.

As Wolf was leaving the event, police officers were ordering the protesters to stay off the street. Reportedly, after hearing this, Wolf told the officers that those gathered "didn't need a permit for a megaphone" and that they weren't actually blocking the footpath.

That small offence, or rather, defence, apparently led to the officers cuffing and detaining Wolf and her companion.

It's not clear exactly what Wolf has been charged with, however most of the arrests made during the Occupy protests have led to misdemeanour charges.

Hundreds of people have been arrested as the Occupy protests have swept the nation and as of last Saturday, the world.

After protests in Rome on Saturday turned into riots, Italian police went as far as searching homes of those suspected of being leftist extremists.