Police in Los Angeles arrested 54 people on Thursday during the collective act of civil disobedience yet against mega retailer Walmart's employment practices.
Activist group Our Walmart and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor called on workers from about a half-dozen area stores to walk out on their jobs Thursday and join a demonstration in front of a new Walmart location in Chinatown. They were joined by other area union members standing in solidarity with their grievances.
Workers at the protest claimed that Walmart does not pay living wages to most of its rank-and-file employees, and accused the company of retaliating against individuals who attempt to organize unions and fight for better wages.
Demonstrators were arrested after they stood in a circle on Caesar Chavez St. and refused a police order to disperse, according to CBS Los Angeles.
A spokesperson for Walmart told Reuters that none of the stores in the Los Angeles area were affected by the walkout, and that "virtually no" employees participated.
This video is from advocacy group Our Walmart.
Photo: Flickr user Brave New Films, creative commons licensed.