Alexandra Olgin - KJZZ

Tomas Robles from Living United for Change Arizona protesting outside McDonalds on McDowell in Downtown Phoenix.

In 100 cities across the country, fast food workers went on strike Thursday to try to raise the federal minimum wage. In Phoenix protesters were out demanding a higher living wage, but none of them were fast food workers.

Inside the McDonalds on McDowell in Downtown Phoenix workers served burgers and fries, while just outside the restaurant 65 people held a solidarity rally. Living United for Change organized the protest, and leader Tomas Robles said he is out striking for the workers who couldn’t leave their jobs today.

“A lot of these workers are struggling and in poverty and frankly they are scared. They are scared because workers that have stood up and said something have been fired and let go from their jobs and this is a way," Robles said.

Robles says the goal of the rally is to raise awareness of how low minimum wage is and how hard it is to live on.

The organization delivered a petition demanding a living wage of $15 an hour to the McDonalds manager. The manager did not accept the petition, and Living United for Change says they are trying to decide what step to take next.