Walmart workers protested at store locations across the country on Black Friday, and their ranks included some sympathetic activists.

Walmart and activists presented differing accounts of just how many people protested the store on the biggest day of the year for retailers, with Walmart saying that fewer than 1,600 protesters nationwide had shown up, whereas representatives of OURWalmart said 200-300 people attended the Washington, D.C. march while protesters nationwide numbered in the thousands, according to UPI.

A Walmart spokeswoman said that no Walmart workers had walked off the job to participate, although some had worked their shift and then joined the protesters.

The proportion of activists and actual Walmart employees was unclear, with OURWalmart claiming the ratio was 10 activists for each employee. Walmart said employees largely did not participate in the march, and accused labor unions of “trying to crush the holiday spirit,” according to the spokeswoman.

The organizers of the protests said they aren’t trying to disrupt the retailer, but rather raise awareness of the low wages Walmart employees receive, arguing that the retailer should provide its workers with a living wage.

Disruptions at a Chicago location forced the police to get involve. The protesters said that because of its crowded location, it was impossible not to block the sidewalk, according to the report.

Walmart has been notoriously hard on workers who attempt to form unions. The National Labor Relations Board in 2013 said Walmart often punished or intimidated workers who considered taking part inf strikes, although the retailer denied these claims.