By: Shannon Copeland
On the heels of the controversial statement from Chick-fil-A’s president Dan Cathy regarding the constitution of marriage, enraged and supporting responses followed.
So on August 1, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee declared the day as “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” and urged supporters to join in on the cause and eat at Chick-fil-A.
The company has been fending off criticism since President and CEO Dan Cathy told an online religious publication in North Carolina that the company supported the “biblical definition of the family unit.”
“You should be able to speak your mind in America,” said Tyler, a teenager from Boca Raton. “It’s good to know a large corporation can hold their ground in today’s society,” said his friend Kevin.
“I support Dan’s comment of keeping the sanctity of marriage,” said Janet.
The “appreciation day” ran rather smoothly at Town Center at Boca Raton where hundreds lined up for lunch on Wednesday afternoon, creating a queue that zigzagged through the recently renovated food court.
Chick-fil-A’s executive vice president of marketing, Steven Robinson released this statement “The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat very person with honor, dignity and respect-regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”
Chick-fil-A still has claimed no affiliation with the “national appreciation day”, but supporters have not allowed that to stop them.