RICHMOND — Participants at a march in Richmond Saturday to protest in favor of a $15 an hour minimum wage rejected out of hand the economic argument that a rate that high would hurt the people it was meant to help. There was, they argued, no economic downside, and any claim to the contrary was a smokescreen by big business.

Yolanda Pierson, an Atlanta woman participating in the march, expressed the common sentiment. “It is just an excuse. They don’t want to have to pay out $15,” she said, adding. “They’re certainly not paying themselves minimum wage.”