Outside of the GOP Debate in Des Moines on Thursday, protesters braved the cold to take on a controversial issue in the U.S. economy.

The movement called Fight for 15 braved the 30-degree weather Thursday night to call for a raise in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

More than 100 individuals gathered outside of the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines to make their wants known, chanting “What do we want? 15. If we don’t get it, shake down.”

Several organizations were present at the event, as well as community members.

Matthew Covington, a Des Moines resident and member of the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, was another body gathered in the crowd outside the events center.

“I’m very much supportive of the Fight for 15 movement, especially for the 35 or 36 workers who went on strike this morning and this afternoon who are risking their jobs for at least $15 an hour,” Covington said.

Fight for 15 is an international workers strike that works to reform the country’s wage system and spreads its message by organizing events across the country.

“$7.25 is a poverty wage,” Covington said. “People can’t put food on the table. Even single adults struggle to make ends meet unless it’s at $15 or above really. It’s long overdue to raise the wage.”

Lauren Salgadon, a student at Augsburg in Minneapolis, traveled to Des Moines in solidarity for the cause.

“I think everyone deserves a standard of living, which means everything that one needs and not just necessarily wants,” she said.

The location of the event was no mistake as well. The organizers were hoping to gain the attention of the Republican candidates inside the events center, as well as the other presidential hopefuls not present.

“Any candidate at this point, we just want to be heard and we want to know whether any candidate or not is going to back us up,” Salgadon said.

However, Covington said the workers who planned to strike happened to coincide with the debate and was not planned.

Covington said he knew that very few candidates support the increase in minimum wage. However, he said the more momentum and public support shown for that, it’ll show them it’s not only politically feasible but the right thing to do.

Covington said he was hoping the protest would catch attention not only of the candidates, but of voters across the nation.

The Des Moines Register reported earlier in the day that about 150 fast food, child care and other minimum wage workers demonstrated in the city over the noon hour as well.

The crowd marched at a McDonald’s on University Avenue before moving to the Iowa Events Center in the evening.

Salgadon said she was surprised by the turnout at the event.

“It’s such a big turnout, but it’s exciting that we’re all here supporting one another,” she said.

For coverage of the debate at the Iowa Events Center, The Daily’s article can be viewed here.