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Congresswoman Arrested at Fast Food Protest

Rep. Gwen Moore (D., Wis.) speaks on Capitol Hill / AP
September 4, 2014

Rep. Gwen Moore (D., Wis.) was arrested during a West Milwaukee fast food protest organized by one of her largest campaign donors, a local CBS affiliate reported.

U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore has been arrested by West Milwaukee police during a minimum wage protest on Miller Park Way.

So far, 25 people have been arrested by police officers while protesting in front of the Miller Park Way McDonald's. All ramps leading to Miller Park Way have been shut down thanks to the minimum wage strike.

SEIU is one of Moore’s largest campaign donors. The political powerhouse has given the Wisconsin Democrat more than $50,000 since she was elected in 2006. The union has given her $7,500 in the 2014 cycle.

Labor watchdogs said Moore’s arrest was a form of political grandstanding.

"It is a disgrace that Congresswoman Moore would participate in such a pathetic stunt and use the prestige of her office to advance a well-funded special interest campaign that hurts small business owners in her district," said Ryan Williams of Worker Center Watch.

The union-backed campaign pledged to ramp up picketing during Thursday’s protest, pledging "civil disobedience" to raise entry-level salaries to $15 per hour. Dozens of protesters were arrested across the country.