Police arrest 23 Walmart protesters in Southern California

The Wal-Mart logo is seen in this file photo. (AP /Amy Sancetta)

PICO RIVERA, Calif. -- A protest at a Los Angeles-area Wal-Mart focusing on better wages has ended in some two dozen arrests.

Authorities say 23 men and women were arrested Thursday after they blocked traffic at a Pico Rivera intersection during a protest that began with a sit-down strike inside the local Wal-Mart.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department says those detained were cited for failure to disperse and released.

A group supported by the United Food & Commercial Workers union is demanding a wage of $15 an hour and full-time work for some employees of the nation's largest retailer.

Asked to comment on the report, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said: "Today we focused on serving our customers, but every day we're focused on the opportunity that we offer our associates across the country."