Comedian and civil rights activist Dick Gregory compared Wal-Mart to the leader of Nazi Germany at a “living wage” rally in front of the D.C. City Council on Tuesday.

“When you look at Hitler and those thugs, you can put Wal-Mart right next to them,” Gregory said in his speech to the 150 or so people at the event. The crowd was gathered to protest D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray’s veto of a bill that would have singled out the retail giant and forced it pay its employees $12.50 an hour. …

“They talk about America the beautiful! When did America get beautiful? Ask the Indians!” Gregory said.

His remarks quieted the previously cheering crowd. Perhaps sensing the protesters’ restlessness, he returned the subject to minimum wage laws before handing the microphone back to event organizers.