Updated at 7:45 p.m. with details from the protest at Hampton Avenue

ST. LOUIS • St. Louis police arrested nearly 30 people Tuesday evening outside the McDonald’s restaurant on Hampton Avenue near Interstate 44 as part of a national day of protests for a $15 minimum wage.

Police Chief Sam Dotson had warned protesters they would be arrested for blocking the street.

At 5:30 p.m. about 200 protesters began marching around the McDonald’s before people willing to be arrested broke off to sit in the street.

“Folks are trying to survive on $7.65 an hour; that’s just simply not enough,” said a clergyman who joined those who were arrested.

Dotson said earlier in the day that the city supports a wage increase and there are laws already in place to address the issue.

“Our city is one of the most progressive cities in the state,” Dotson said. “We already passed laws to increase the minimum wage, so why are you impacting families trying to get home to get their kids to sporting events in a community that’s already heard and agrees with your message?