Fight for $15 Rally

They stormed the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Union in near-military precision and with determined resolve. They had the advantage of surprise-they seemed to materialize out of the ether-as they ambushed the union booming their cause with the help of their sizable crowd, and armed with a megaphone.

They made their move just hours before the presidential democratic debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. They marched through the Union lobby, up to the press spin room and back again.

It was the Fight for $15 movement, and their push is for a minimum wage of $15 per hour. They assert that this is a livable wage-something presidential aspirant, Bernie Sanders, endorses-and what current County Executive, Chris Abele, promptly squashed when the matter came to his desk.

They came in a swarm of over 200 persons, among them former UW-Milwaukee professor, Jim Mileham, who taught French for over 35 years. This 72-year-old protestor, who retired just five years ago, described Bernie Sanders’ position for their cause.

He said, “Some politicians are working for the rich, not the working class or middle class.”

One focus of the movement, particularly, is the employment conditions of home care aides.

“Home care aides have low wages, high stress, long hours, and work physically and emotionally demanding jobs,” said Caitlin Taylor, who works as a researcher for the UWM Center for Economic Development. “The government should invest in workers.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) was on-hand to make sure things proceeded without government interference.

“We’re here to protect the right of people to demonstrate,” said Molly Collins, a legal observer who wore a bright blue vest which identified the organization and her function there. She was not a lawyer, but was trained for her position, and has been to many demonstrations she said.

After returning to the Union lobby, the Fight for $15 group made its voices heard and movement objectives clear. Many carried signs and placards that related their message as well as those of the Black Lives Matter and Immigrant Justice concerns.