On April 14, the OUR Walmart organization came to central Florida. The number of representatives from various labor groups was a testament to the unifying effect of the minimum-wage fight happening in the U.S. at the moment. The multinational U.S. working class was well-represented at the protest which started at an Econo-lodge not far from Disney World. Orlando’s labor activist core was there including Organize Now and OUR Walmart were all visible, as well as many other demonstrators with signs given to them by the Fight for $15 initiative.
The protest started out looking like it was going for a playful vibe–given the usual flavor of Orlando and the large guilty-looking Ronald McDonald made of papier-mache. But the action quickly turned into righteous disgust in defense of the workers’ demanding better conditions and wages.
Also usual for Orlando was the police presence. Police kept trying to corral the protesters off of the street and onto the sidewalk, but they were met with chants of “Whose streets?!” “Our streets!” It was as cops
were trying to plug a hole in a dam with one finger- every time the back of the march was guided to the sidewalk, the front of the march would flow back into the street and vice-versa. Traffic was backed up on an already busy road. Despite the street blockage, many motorists showed support by honking and waving.
When we finally arrived at the McDonald’s at the corner of International Drive and Sandlake Road, it was clear why the police didn’t have the ability keep us off the street- they were all too busy protecting McDonald’s from having protesters on their property. There were easily five police cars and many more police present, blocking the entrance to the establishment and telling everyone that protesters weren’t allowed.
After protesting for some time there in front of the McDonald’s we made our way back to the Econo-lodge, but before leaving we chanted a reminder to the bosses that the movement wasn’t going anywhere– “We’ll be back! We’ll be back!”
