Protest held outside US presidential election debate in New York

A number of people protested outside the venue of the US presidential election debate in New York on Monday evening. (Photo by Reuters)

A large number of protesters have staged a demonstration outside the venue of the US presidential election debate in New York to demand an increase in the minimum wage.

The demonstrators and their supporters seeking a $15-an-hour minimum wage and better benefits gathered outside Hofstra University located in New York’s Long Island on Monday evening. Many of them were members of the Fight for $15 movement.

The protesters shouted slogans and held banners. Several demonstrators even blocked the entrance and exit for vehicles parking at the Nassau Coliseum, where the debate was being held.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and her Republican challenger Donald Trump are not in favor of increasing the minimum wage from its current level of $7.50 per hour to $15, as was promised by former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.

Since 2012, the Fight for $15 movement has been involved in convincing American lawmakers and large companies to increase the minimum wage and improve working conditions.

The campaign is backed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents workers, ranging from fast-food restaurant staff to home health aides.

Police arrested several protesters including those who were carrying signs in support of Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein.

US Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein arrives for a press conference at the National Press Club August 23, 2016 in Washington, DC. (Photo by AFP)

Barred from participating in the Clinton-Trump face-off, Stein staged her own live stream Q&A session on social media from outside the presidential debate venue.

The Commission on Presidential Debates announced last week that Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson and Stein would not participate in the September 26 debate because they had failed to garner the 15 percent support in five polls required to qualify for the debate.

But the Green Party presidential nominee rejected the standards set by the commission and told CNN she planned to show up at the event with her supporters.