11 people arrested in protest at West Loop Walmart

Eleven people were arrested at a protest while trying to block the checkout lines at a Walmart store in the West Loop late Wednesday morning.

About 200 protesters showed up the store at 570 W. Monroe about 10:45 a.m. to call for the County Board to pass the Responsible Business Act, according to a statement from IIRON. The act would require large corporations to pay workers a living wage, or pay Cook County a fee to cover the costs of providing healthcare and other services to low-wage workers.

“We’re done asking Walmart nicely to do right by workers and taxpayers,” IIRON leader Michael Collins said in a statement. “Last year, Walmart’s profits exceeded $16 billion. It’s clear Walmart can afford to pay workers in its 25 Cook County stores a living wage or to cover the cost of the social safety net their workers need in order to survive.”

The protestors blocked all the store’s cashier’s lanes. Eleven protestors were arrested when they would not disperse at officers’ request, according to Chicago Police. It was not immediately known if they would be charged.