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Chick-fil-A Fans Show Support For Chain and Chicken on "Appreciation Day"
Photo by DerekThomasLA via Flickr
Some people just love their chicken sandwiches...and many of them are showing up at their nearest Chick-fil-A today at the behest of former presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, who has dubbed August 1 "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."
Says Huckabee in a Facebook event post:
No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let's affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm traditional values, we're considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant. This effort is not being launched by the Chick Fil-A company and no one from the company or family is involved in proposing or promoting it.
All the squawking from either side of the aisle stems from recent comments made by Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy, who acknowledged in an interview that he and the company do not support same-sex marriage, affirming lengthy speculation from the public who have been dubious about the Georgia-based chain's religious and political leanings.
Sponsored message
In response, supporters of same-sex rights have staged protests and lambasted Cathy and the restaurant. Huckabee says the all-American values and success story of the Cathy family is being "smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left."
But today, Angelenos are heeding Huckabee's call. ABC7 reports that Mary Helen of Palmdale has already patronized the Chick-fil-A in Northridge today, and Helen says she supports Cathy's "passion and courage," adding: "He (Dan Cathy) has a right to do and say - it's his business. So [I am] here to support him."
Some Chick-fil-A owners, however, are trying to demonstrate that Cathy doesn't necessarily speak for them. Jeremiah Cillpam, the owner of the Chick-fil-A Hollywood issued a letter on Facebook recently, emphasizing that Cathy's views were "personal." Unfortunately for Cillpam, the Hollywood location is the site of a protest today put on by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
On Friday, Chick-fil-A locations nationwide are expected to be the site of same-sex "kiss in" protests.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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