Pete Buttigieg was reportedly “chased down” in South Carolina by Black Voters Matter activists while attending a demonstration with striking McDonald’s workers in support of raising the minimum wage.

The Democratic presidential candidate was at a “Fight for $15” rally when protestors with Black Voters Matter — a group dedicated to increasing the political power held by black communities — lambasted him for failing to raise the minimum wage in South Bend, Indiana, where he previously served as mayor.

Protestors began heckling Mr Buttigieg at the demonstration, according to Tampa Bay Times political editor Steve Contorno, chanting: “Where was $15 in South Bend. Pete can’t be our president.”

Mr Contorno, who attended the event on Monday afternoon, later tweeted: “Buttigieg had to race into a car after the rally as he was chased down by Black Voters Matter protesters.”

According to the editor, one Black Voters Matter protestor yelled at Mr Buttigieg: “This is a workers strike. How dare you.”

A campaign aide for Mr Buttigieg later noted to The Independent that local Indiana laws essentially bars South Bend from passing its own minimum wage ordinances.

Other activists with the group reportedly blasted the Democratic candidate for “using black workers as a photo op” as he marched with demonstrators at the Fight for $15 rally.

Mr Buttigieg was in South Carolina ahead of the state’s crucial primary vote on Saturday, working to garner support among the state’s sizable population of black voters.

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Show all 18 1 /18 Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Jessica Canicosa, a precinct captain for Bernie Sanders, waits to greet caucus voters at Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Hotel workers at the Bellagio in Las Vegas get to grips with voting papers during the Nevada caucuses AFP via Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A caricature of Bernie Sanders is projected on to a tree during a rally in Las Vegas EPA Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A woman waits to have a photo taken with Elizabeth Warren during a town hall meeting in Las Vegas REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures The threat of coronavirus and other germ-borne illnesses was on some voters' minds at the Democratic caucuses in Henderson, Nevada Getty Images Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Former vice-president Joe Biden takes a selfie with a voter in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses REUTERS Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

The former mayor has struggled to build a diverse coalition of support throughout his candidacy, while Joe Biden remained largely popular among black Democratic voters in South Carolina throughout the campaign trail.

However, following the former vice president’s weak performance in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, Mr Biden’s opponents have seen his support among minority communities in the state as potentially up for grabs.

Mr Buttigieg posed for photographs and held a large sign that read “Unions for All” during the demonstration, standing among a crowd of predominantly-black striking workers.

Mr Buttigieg addressed the crowd as he was heckled, according to Reuters, saying in a brief statement: “No matter who you support for president, I support you and I support unions and a $15 minimum wage.”

He then began nearly running towards his vehicle to avoid a confrontation with protestors, Reuters reported.