MANHATTAN — Elected officials were among 26 people arrested for blocking traffic during a protest for a higher minimum wage in the Financial District Tuesday morning, NYPD officials said.
The protesters, including politicians Brad Lander, Mark Levine, Francisco Moya and Antonio Reynoso, were cuffed near Broadway and Liberty Street on charges of obstructing governmental administration while taking part in the "Fight for 15" campaign, a nationwide effort to raise the minimum wage, police and activists said.
Marching w/ @32BJSEIU this AM for #Fightfor15, fair workweek, benefits, and right to organize for all workers #wewontbackdown pic.twitter.com/ZWkkScQTh4
— Tish James (@TishJames) November 29, 2016
About 30 people broke off from a gathering in Zuccotti Park to "engage in civil disobedience" outside a nearby McDonald's to protest the burger joint's unfair treatment of its own workers, according to organizers with the Service Employees International Union.
The fight goes on! Our Executive Director Ann Toback was among those arrested in the #fightfor15 rally and march this morning. pic.twitter.com/HYPE9No0dh
— Workmen's Circle (@workmenscircle) November 29, 2016
BREAKING: #Fightfor15 workers and allies shutting down Broadway NOW in NYC pic.twitter.com/5bbOQ3newr
— 32BJ SEIU (@32BJSEIU) November 29, 2016
Our Larry Moskowitz proudly engaged in civil disobedience to send a message in the #fightfor15 that we won’t back down. @32BJSEIU pic.twitter.com/P7cubMHQrr
— Workmen's Circle (@workmenscircle) November 29, 2016
Fast food workers will not back down and will risk arrest until we get justice! #Fightfor15 pic.twitter.com/xMZAAL9XZm
— Fast Food Forward (@FastFoodForward) November 29, 2016
The gathering in the park included fast food workers, airport workers, Uber drivers, taxi drivers and other activists, organizers said.
The protest marked the fourth anniversary of the first fast food workers strike and took place in the same area where Occupy Wall Street famously staked its camp for months in 2012.
After the Financial District protests, activists planned to converge on Newark Liberty International Airport for a major rally to improve conditions of airport workers, they said.
We're on the bus! 32BJ Members are ready to stand with Newark airport workers in the #Fightfor15 because #PovertyDoesntFly! pic.twitter.com/n1bv3KFEuZ
— 32BJ SEIU (@32BJSEIU) November 29, 2016
