Detroit police arrested dozens of demonstrators who were participating in a nationwide fast-food protest Thursday morning. Hundreds of workers around the U.S. from McDonald's Taco Bell, Wendy's and other chains planned to strike in a push to raise their hourly wage to $15.

According to local reporters who were on scene during the arrests, protesters wearing T-shirts that read "$15" were sitting in the middle of the road and refused to move when police asked them to "get up." The number of arrests varies, from 25 to 40. Mashable has reached out to authorities to confirm.

#NOW @detroitpolice have arrested 25 people during the protest at McDonalds pic.twitter.com/CsBi7lWNGM — Lauren Podell (@Local4Lauren) September 4, 2014

#BREAKING: 72 @detroitpolice officers are here now. Close to 40 arrests made. Live report at 7:30am pic.twitter.com/DE0tOmCQau — Roop Raj (@rooprajfox2) September 4, 2014

Many fast-food workers do not make much more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, adding up to about $15,000 a year for 40 hours a week. Though the minimum wage in Michigan was increased this week from $7.40 an hour to $8.15 an hour, that still totals to a little less than $17,000 a year before taxes. Local pastor W.J. Rideout III told Roop Raj, a reporter for the local Fox station, that the 100 protesters sitting in the street were prepared to be arrested because they wanted to let McDonald's and other corporations know that they are "serious" about raising wages. The pastor said he supported the cause and was even ready to be arrested himself.

"We're not backing up," Rideout told Raj. "Our attorneys are here. Our bail bondsmen are here. We're not scared."

#BREAKING: hundreds of protesters are refusing to get out off Mack Ave. they're willing to be arrested. #FastFood pic.twitter.com/6m0uGQEomD — Roop Raj (@rooprajfox2) September 4, 2014

#BREAKING: hundreds blocking the street by sitting on Mack Ave as part of #Fastfoodstrike pic.twitter.com/frAkj1P1SW — Roop Raj (@rooprajfox2) September 4, 2014

The demonstrators, who assembled before sunrise Thursday, are part of the "Fight for $15," a much larger campaign that has been active for two years. Protests are planned in 150 cities across the U.S. on Thursday.

As part of the D15 campaign, dozens of workers from McDonald’s in Detroit go on strike for living wages of $15/hr. pic.twitter.com/e3j6KJnrY7 — Tell Us Detroit (@TellUsDetroit) September 4, 2014

In midtown New York, large crowds of protesters assembled in Times Square early on Thursday as well.

There have been similar demonstrations for the campaign over the past few months as wage disparity continues to be a hot-button issue nationwide. In May, the cause went global when protesters assembled in the largest fast-food strike in history with protests in 33 countries. They have been mostly peaceful, targeting individual restaurants with strikes. The idea of civil disobedience arose in July when 1,300 workers held a convention in Chicago.

During the global strikes in May, McDonald's was careful with how it addressed the situation. The company released a statement in May, saying it's "an important discussion that needs to take into account the highly competitive nature of the industries that employ minimum-wage workers, as well as consumers and the thousands of small businesses which own and operate the vast majority of McDonald’s restaurants."

The industry thinks the movement's demands are unrealistic, as they would cut into profits, reduce hires and force chains to raise prices. Scott DeFife, an executive vice president for the National Restaurant Association, a trade group, warned of the risks of a wage increase.

"It would have consequences on hiring patterns for Main Street businesses across the country," he told The New York Times in May.

However, the demonstrators seem to have supporters in high places. President Barack Obama, who has been pushing for a raise in minimum wage, mentioned the campaign during an address earlier this week.

"There's a national movement going on made up of fast food workers organizing to lift wages so they can provide for their families with pride and dignity," Obama said. "If I were busting my butt in the service industry and wanted an honest day's pay for an honest day's work, I'd join a union."

Some information in this report was provided by the Associated Press.