Charleston protesters cited during fast food wage protest

Charleston police confirm several people were cited Thursday afternoon after blocking Crosstown traffic as part of a nationwide fast food wage protest.

Workers from area fast-food restaurants staged a protest in downtown Charleston Thursday. The protest eventually spilled onto the streets, with a number of protesters staging a sit-in across Spring Street. Police shut down Hagood from Fishburne to Spring St. and Spring St. from President St. to Lockwood Dr. The shutdown started at 12:08 pm and ended around 2 pm. Police say the shutdown was for safety.

Traffic was re-routed while Charleston police attempted to clear the protesters from the street.

Department spokesperson Charles Francis says a number of people participating in Thursday's protest were arrested after they were warned to leave. They were then cited for disorderly conduct and released. Police have not said how many citations were issued, or if all those who were cited were fast-food workers. The citations will come with fines, which will be decided by a municipal judge.

Protest organizers issued a release Thursday stating "18 Charleston fast-food workers were arrested [Thursday] afternoon as they participated in a nonviolent civil disobedience."

The protests are part of a nationwide strike, in which fast-food workers are demanding their wages be increased to $15.

Copyright 2014 WCSC. All rights reserved.