Thousands of underpaid workers across California mobilized Tuesday in a historic show of solidarity for higher wages, social justice and equality in cities from San Diego to Sacramento.

Striking workers from McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s joined home care, child care, and other low-wage workers at a massive afternoon rallies at City Halls Tuesday afternoon – part of 500 protests nationwide to demand that elected leaders everywhere stand up for $15 an hour and union rights

Cymone Fillmore, a mother from San Diego and a fast food worker for three years who currently works at Wienerschnitzel:

The Fight for $15 isn't about any one individual. It's about the community standing together and saying we'll all be better off with a stronger wage floor. Too many people aren't making it on $9 an hour. I can't make ends meet on the minimum wage we are getting paid. We need $15, and paid sick days, to meet the basic necessities for ourselves and our families. This initiative gives us hope that we can win the Fight for $15 to make the economy work for all Californians, not just the rich.

In Los Angeles, California Labor Federation leader Art Pulaski and environmental activist Tom Steyer joined thousands to rally in support of low-wage workers in a variety of industries including home care, child care, garment and fast-food.

Pulaski:

This is a movement now. Led by working people who want a living wage. Working people who demand respect on the job. Working people who won’t settle for anything less than $15 AND A UNION!

Nationwide, workers are taking their Fight for $15 and union rights to the ballot box to show candidates of all political stripes that the more than 60 million Americans paid less than $15/hr are a voting bloc that can no longer be ignored. Forty-two percent of workers in America are paid less than $15, including 48% of women, 54% of African Americans, and 60% of Latinos.

There are 3.2 million workers in California paid less than $15/hr.