Atlanta on Thursday was among a handful of cities where protests for higher wages included civil disobedience. After blocking traffic in Midtown, 10 activists were arrested and carted away.
The demonstration was part of a national campaign to raise wages and encourage unionization of low-wage workers, such as those employed at fast-food restaurants or in home health care jobs. The event drew more than 100 people from community and workers’ groups, as well as several unions – and a contingent of Atlanta police – to a McDonald’s along Ponce de Leon Avenue.
Protesters have called for a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour, more than twice the statutory floor in Georgia.
Opponents decry the idea as a job killer – raising costs for employers and compelling them to use more automation or hire fewer workers.
“A dramatic minimum wage increase to $15 is not the solution to relieve poverty,” said Karen Bremer, executive director of the Georgia Restaurant Association.
Roughly 95 percent of restaurant employees already earn more than the minimum wage, she said. That means a large hike would mostly service to eliminate jobs for young people and “entry-level” workers.
“The discussion on minimum wage has to be based on facts,” Bremer said.
Protesters marched up Ponce chanting, “No justice, no peace,” and, “We can’t survive on $7.25.” They stopped in front of the restaurant, blocked its driveway and some of the activists sat in the street, effectively shutting off the heavy, midday flow of traffic westbound.
Protesters at one point chanted “Hands up! Don’t shoot!” – a reference to the violence in Ferguson, Mo. – but the confrontation was peaceful.
Employing a bullhorn, Deputy Chief J.R. Spillane announced, “We respect your right to protest out here peacefully, but we can’t have you blocking traffic. … If you do not move, you will all be placed under arrest.”
Those who were sitting remained and at 12:42 p.m., the cuffs came out.
“I’m here because I have my principles,” said Joshua Collins, 25, before he became the first to be escorted to a Fulton County van.
He has worked for two years at an area Burger King and makes $7.25 an hour, he said. “This is for my kids, my future and my principles.”
Yolanda Neal, 36, of Atlanta, said she makes $8 an hour at a fast food restaurant – and that is more than some managers. “They offer benefits, but you have to pay for them – they are expensive.”
A manager inside the McDonald’s declined comment.
Police ordered the entrance to the restaurant kept open and McDonald’s continued to have a crowd of sit-down lunch customers. However, there were virtually no cars using the drive-through during the protest.
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