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Boston University students held a rally Tuesday afternoon in Kenmore Square in support of raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Approximately 200 BU students, adjunct professors and fast-food workers convened outside of 100 Bay State Road. Some of the workers were dressed in customized shirts that read “Fast-food Workers Fight for 15.”
Those present at the rally marched to the McDonald’s in Kenmore Square, where supporters circled in front of and walked into the restaurant, chanting “15 now!”
The student-run demonstration later marched to Forsyth Park at Northeastern University, joining the national organization #WageAction and a coalition of other groups.
Dan Hunter, a professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, said low wages make people dependent on welfare programs and food stamps.
“We are talking about justice, fairness and survival. People trying to make a living on $10 an hour cannot make it,” he said. “What happens is [people] get on food stamps and other welfare programs and so we wind up subsidizing McDonald’s, which made $5 billion net profit last year, and they won’t [even] bring the wage up to $15 an hour.”
Cara Toland, a sophomore in CAS and one of the rally organizers, spoke in front of attendees and said she is not making enough income to support herself while simultaneously working and going to college.
Lee Staples, a professor in the School of Social Work, said the movement is growing and that he wants to be part of that change.
“I am here in solidarity for fast food workers, for colleagues at Boston University, Northeastern, Wellesley [College] and for immigrant workers who will be joining us at Northeastern,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to show support and solidarity for working people.”
Laurie LaPorte, a professor in CAS, said the activists are simply aiming for fair pay and sustainable living.
“This [the rally] is important because we want to get good pay for good work,” she said. “Already, you see people stopping and paying attention [to the rally]. We are all marching to Northeastern to draw attention there. We are just trying to keep the conversation moving, to keep the momentum going.”
Roughly 1,000 workers and students from different labor unions and colleges in Boston gathered at Forsyth Park following the BU rally at McDonald’s.
The groups held signs and operated booths, all in support of increasing minimum wage. Residents, workers and minority groups spoke on a stage about their hardships living under low wages, and they demanded change.
Several BU students who attended the rally said the issue of minimum wage is both important and concerning.
Tatiana Green, a senior in CAS, said that she wants to be a social worker and hopes to improve living conditions for minority groups in America.
“[What] I want to accomplish is to basically help black and Latino communities,” she said. “Low wages is something that unfortunately affects [those communities].”
Leah Raczynski, a sophomore in the College of Fine Arts, said every human being should be able to support themselves, regardless of their job.
“I just believe that, bottom line, it’s important to me to support myself, but also my families,” she said. “I don’t think there should be a judgment about what jobs are important and what jobs aren’t, because I know people who make low wages who work really hard.”
Kelley McNary, a freshman in CAS, said she hopes for a minimum wage raise, if only so all working people can sustain themselves.
“I think everyone deserves to be able to live off of the wages they are getting,” McNary said. “You shouldn’t have a steady job and be paid and still not be able to live properly.”
