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August 1, 2012

Residents flood Chick-fil-A in show of support

By Kelsey Ryan kryan@joplinglobe.com

JOPLIN, Mo. — Hundreds of area residents paid a visit to Chick-fil-A Wednesday after former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee declared Aug. 1 national “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.”

“We came just to take a stand and support Chick-fil-A,” said Randy Bishop of Joplin. “We win by eating Chick-fil-A and we win by supporting their beliefs. To us as Christians, it’s not controversial. It’s the truth. We’ve been silent too long.”

Supporters backed up traffic on Range Line Road and several vehicles had bumper stickers or car window paint expressing their support for the company.

Chick-fil-A, the national chain known for its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries, has been broiled in controversy since its president, Dan Cathy, said the company was “guilty as charged” for backing “the biblical definition of a family.” The company’s foundation, WinShape Foundation Inc., out of Atlanta, Ga., has contributed millions to anti-gay marriage groups like the Marriage and Family Foundation and the Family Research Council, according to Equality Matters, an LGBT rights group and the foundation’s 990 IRS tax forms.

Raymond Dunaway, manager of the Joplin store, said corporate headquarters asked them not to comment because it is such a controversial subject.

So far, there have been no counter-protesters at the Joplin restaurant.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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