Fight for $15 workers took to the streets in St. Louis on Wednesday to protest the Mayor’s embarrassing embrace of McDonald’s.

Workers organized the day of action following the mayor’s tweet that said that “everybody loves McDonald’s”, and encouraged people to apply for open positions at the chain. The mayor didn’t acknowledge that McDonald’s still refuses to pay their employees a living wage, or take action against sexual harassment in their stores.

Today we’re telling @LydaKrewson she’s WRONG about the opportunity working at @McDonalds present its. The mayor should stand with #FightFor15 workers organizers against sexual harassment and low wages, not the multi-billion dollar corporation holding our community down! pic.twitter.com/2DWJjmm4mu

— Show Me $15 (@Show_Me15) October 2, 2019

“We stand here not to shame the mayor but to inform and educate the mayor,” said the Rev. Darryl Gray, an activist who joined the protest. “I’m praying at the end of the day when she gets the facts…that she’ll do the right thing.”

State Rep Elect @SheenBean32 —one if the first #FightFor15 strikers in St Louis — knows what @McDonalds is like first hand. “I used to be a low wage worker making slave wages. We give 110% and we dont ‘get it back.” McDonald’s is not a great job in our communities. pic.twitter.com/1bL7bjywoE

— Show Me $15 (@Show_Me15) October 2, 2019

Their message to the Mayor is clear — don’t be a McDonald’s mouthpiece. Instead, hold them accountable for paying starvation wages, for failing to take meaningful action on sexual harassment, and for contributing to the destruction of the Amazon. Elected officials must stand with workers, and help create an economy that works for everyone.