Around two dozen people chanting “We can’t survive on $7.25” gathered at City Hall today as part of a nationwide, 500-city protest. Nearly 64 million people live on less than a $15 hourly wage, say organizers, who intend to use that voting bloc in the upcoming 2016 elections.
“I can’t survive,” says Latasha Matthew, who makes slightly above minimum wage and can’t afford child care. She says it takes $13.25 an hour to live in Charlottesville.
Several Bernie Sanders supporters took part in the demonstration. In Richmond, McDonald’s workers went on strike, and workers in 270 other cities were going to walk off their jobs, says organizer Liz Schenker.