JERSEY CITY -- Dozens of workers and local activists gathered in Journal Square this afternoon to demand that minimum wage be a "living wage."

The 15 Now organization teamed up with local workers holding signs, chanting that minimum wage should be increased to $15 an hour.

While there is currently a bill that proposes minimum wage be increased from $8.38 to $15 over the next several years, demonstrators said now is the time to raise wages, not years from now.

"How are we going to help out brothers and sisters we lifted out of poverty?," said Michael McLean, of the Food Not Bombs organization. "Can they make a living wage working at entry level jobs in the fast food industry? They need a better way forward."

McLean, who's organization feeds the homeless in Journal Square regularly, said the community needs to come together to help the poor and homeless who are "living and dying on the street."

Reports released by New Jersey Policy Perspective said nearly one million New Jersey resident would benefit if minimum wage was hiked to $15.

In February, Mayor Steve Fulop signed an executive order raising the minimum wage for city workers to $15 an hour. Fulop showed his support for the 15 Now group at a City Hall rally last year.

Juan Casco, a Jersey City resident for 36 years, came out to support the movement, frustrated that his son has had to take time off of school because he cannot afford it.

"He's a three year college university student at Rutgers University but had to take time out because financial aide couldn't cover everything," Casco said of his 21-year-old son. "Now he's working, but he's not making enough to go back."

Casco said it's "very unfair" how financing higher education operates, noting he has paid more than $25,000 out of pocket for his son's tuition.

Some of those gathered today held signs along the curb that read "Honk 4 $15 Now," to which many drivers responded.

Demonstrators chanted to the tune of "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "This Little Light of Mine."

"When every worker, has a job, has a job at a living wage, oh I want to be in that number, when we all have a living wage," the protesters sang.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.