Protesters again staged #FightFor15 rallies across the country today as part of their National Day of Action, largely congregating in front of McDonald’s restaurants to demand an increase in the minimum wage to a livable $15 an hour.
Hey McDonald's you can't hide we can see your greedy side! #Fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/5CoGYRQMnH
— Fight For 15 PA (@FightFor15PA) April 14, 2016
NOW: Fast food workers are ON STRIKE at northside McDonald’s in Chicago! #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/SmH3ha4LKi
— Fight For 15 Chicago (@chifightfor15) April 14, 2016
Hey @McDonalds we want $15 and a Union! #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/q1mOe8EgEl
— Central Labor Counci (@NashvilleCLC) April 14, 2016
Here’s rare footage of American battle rapper Skillet dropping rhymes about “modern day slavery.”
Skillet drops some knowledge about rich CEOs starving workers, especially @McDonalds #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/IedJ7XcoMt
— OBS_StL (@OBS_STL) April 14, 2016
Occasionally, protests moved inside as well, as they did in Memphis, giving demonstrators the opportunity to hassle the people who showed up to work today and make it nearly impossible for them to do their jobs. Some broke script in Atlanta and stormed a Burger King as well.
#Fightfor15 protest in #Memphis gets out of control as protesters stormed @McDonalds, “had to be escorted out”https://t.co/Uzeo7LaeAE
— America Rising (@ARSquared) April 14, 2016
Protest didn't stop at @McDonalds, moved next door to @BurgerKing #FightFor15 @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/djcjsNMRcw
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) April 14, 2016
Protesters trying to convince @BurgerKing employees to join them #FightFor15 @WVTM13 pic.twitter.com/Xiz2QIr0n2
— Kyle Burger (@kyle_burger) April 14, 2016
The epicenter of today’s protests was New York’s Times Square, where a marching band and a mariachi band joined in the demonstration, which is the sort of thing that happens in Times Square.
#FightFor15 marching through Times Square at rush hour, on their way to a date with @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/j8tiRfph0e
— Brad Mielke (@TheBradMielke) April 14, 2016
Even evil ronald can't resist a marching band at #FightFor15 in TimesSquare NYC pic.twitter.com/8jbfrRW4wx
— OWS People's Puppets (@Power2thePuppet) April 14, 2016
#FightFor15 strikers march on Times Square Verizon store to show solidarity w @CWAUnion strikers. pic.twitter.com/ChfWyk8gVQ
— Daniel Massey (@masseydaniel) April 14, 2016
All of this commotion in New York could be considered the opening act for Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who last fall used his executive authority to raise the minimum wage for state workers to $15 an hour (phased in until 2021) and who took the stage in the afternoon.
LIVE: I’m in Times Square delivering remarks at the National Day of Action rally on $15 minimum wage. https://t.co/ljbBRgjuDN #Fightfor15
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 14, 2016
While most demonstrators’ eyes were fixed on the stage, Newsday’s Matthew Chayes took a peek behind the curtain and found that fighting capitalist giant McDonald’s can work up an appetite.
On stage at Times Square #FightFor15 rally, speaker laments "greedy" @McDonalds; backstage…. pic.twitter.com/fFgn4m0RH8
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) April 14, 2016
Join the conversation as a VIP Member