| Advertisement |
|
|
From Christiansburg to Lynchburg, hundreds of people turned out to area Chick-fil-A restaurants for part of the chain's appreciation day.
This comes on the heels of the founder of the company's views on family.
The restaurant was certainly packed during lunchtime in Roanoke with lines stretched out the doors and cars everywhere. Out the door and around the corner, people showed up to make a statement.
"The message is that a man can have a company and an opinion," Nancy Brubaker, a Chick-fil-A supporter said.
Warren Delafield, also a Chick-fil-A supporter said: "This is all about America being a free country. Not being dominated or pushed by minorities. This country was built on freedom. This country was built on the Bible."
Customers at Valley View Chick-fil-A in Roanoke turned out to support the chain restaurant and its president, Dan Cathy.
A couple of weeks ago, Cathy appeared in the The Baptist Press and weighed in with his views on family, saying "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit."
As some same-sex proponents vowed to boycott the chain, there was a national push to support Chick-fil-A on Wednesday.
"I hate seeing people force their issues on America. You know if you don't do this, I'm going to boycott you. What's that proving? Nothing," Tandy Amburgey said.
"Yeah it is about traditional marriage and it's about same sex marriage as well," Jeff Beckett of Hollins said. "But it's also about the American dream and having your own business and being about to run it the way you want to run it."
Others like Frank House with Roanoke Equity completely disagree with all of this.
"I believe if people were more educated and did a little research, they would find out that indeed that chicken sandwich is going to hurt your neighbor, your teacher, your doctor."
House, along with local supporters of same sex marriage, will have a silent sit-in protest at this Chick-fil-A from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday night.
There's also a nationwide protest set for Friday encouraging gay couples to show public displays of affection at Chick-fil-A restaurants.
------------------------
Thousands of people are expected to take part in an unofficial "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" on Wednesday.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is behind the idea.
He called for the event after the fast food chain was criticized over comments its president made about marriage being only between a man and woman.
The parking lot was so full Wednesday afternoon at the Roanoke Chick-fil-A store near Valley View Mall that people had to park across the street.
There was a traffic jam at the Lynchburg Chick-fil-A location. Cars were backed up all the way down Wards Road.
Same-sex marriage proponents are planning a same-sex "kiss-in" Friday and may target those stores.