Pete Buttigieg was booed and cheered at a march for McDonald's workers demanding $15 an hour

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Pete Buttigieg fight for $15 workers conflict

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg received a mixed reception at a Fight for $15 march in Charleston, South Carolina on Monday.
Buttigieg appeared alongside McDonald's workers demonstrating for unionization and a $15 minimum wage at a strike put on by the Fight for $15 labor group.
"You deserve $15," Buttigieg said. "You deserve a union. And we stand with you."
Activists from Black Youth Project 100 questioned Buttigieg's political record on minimum wage, chanting, "Pete can't be our President, where was $15 in South Bend?"
The State reported that Indiana state law stopping localities from "instituting a higher mandated minimum wage for all businesses" was a roadblock for the South Bend mayor.
BYP100 activist Jamecia Ray told Time that the activists were wary of "flip-flopping" from Buttigieg: "We want to know how you're going to change structural barriers that prevent working folks that are risking their jobs today from getting a livable wage."
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Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg garnered both cheers and boos at a Fight for $15 march in Charleston, South Carolina on Monday.

McDonald's workers and activists demonstrating for a $15 minimum wage and the unionization of fast food employees embraced the South Bend, Indiana mayor, according to footage captured by Time. But activists from Black Youth Project 100, an African American youth social justice organization, heckled Buttigieg over his political record.

In the video, Buttigieg initially appeared behind the Fight for $15 banner, flanked by marchers wearing the movement's red shirts. Activists from the Poor People's Campaign were also present at the event.

"Everyone here supports you and we support $15 and a union for all fast-food workers," Buttigieg said. "You deserve $15. You deserve a union. And we stand with you."

The February 24 march was the Indiana mayor's third meeting with this group of South Caorlina workers. Time recorded Buttigieg hugging McDonald's employee Taiwanna Milligan.

"I'm barely making 40 hours a week at $7.25. That's nothing. How am I supposed to live like that?" McDonald's employee Taiwanna Milligan said in a Fight for $15 statement. "Even if it means us getting arrested, I'm going to do what I have to do to get our voices heard."

Buttigieg specifically cited Milligan's experience when addressing the marchers.

"I was inspired when we marched together over the summer, and I'll tell you why I was inspired," he said. "Because you didn't talk about what you wanted for you. You talked about wanting to provide for your child and that is why everyone here supports you and we support $15 and unions for all fast food workers."

The Fight for $15 marchers began chanting — repeating the slogan "we work, we sweat, put $15 on our check" — as activists from BYP100 began to hurl barbs. One accused Buttigieg of being "a flip-flopper," while another said he was "co-opting the movement." The opposing group of protestors also began to chant, countering with: "Pete can't be our President, where was $15 in South Bend?"

The minimum wage in Indiana is $7.25. In March 2019, the South Bend Tribune called for $12 minimum wage. Columbia, South Carolina newspaper The State reported that Buttigieg successfully raised the minimum wage for South Bend city employees to $10.10 an hour in 2016, but ran into a roadblock with Indiana state law that "prevented local municipalities from instituting a higher mandated minimum wage for all businesses."

The footage from Time showed Buttigieg leaving the scene of the march, followed by BYP100 activists. The presidential candidate referenced a plan for disabled workers to activists as he left the event. Amidst some booing, the presidential candidate was filmed departing in an SUV.

"We want to know how you're going to change structural barriers that prevent working folks that are risking their jobs today from getting a livable wage," BYP100 activist Jamecia Ray told Time.

Buttigieg was the only 2020 presidential candidate to appear at Monday's march, but representatives of rival campaigns were also present. US Representative Ayanna Pressley, the co-chair of Senator Elizabeth's campaign, also attended. And actor Susan Sarandon, a surrogate for Senator Bernie Sanders, also met with workers before the march.