Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day Brings Out Crowds of Supporters

Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate, called for a "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" on Aug. 1, and throughout the area, many patrons flocked to nearby restaurants to show their support.

In July, Chief Executive Officer Dan Cathy made headlines when he was quoted in a Baptist Press interview as saying he supported "the biblical definition of the family unit."

“We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives,” Cathy said in the interview with Baptist Press.

Now, the public wonders if Cathy and Chick-fil-A are anti-gay. The comments have led to support on one side, and concern on the other. And, patrons everywhere are showing their support for the company.

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At the a manager said scores of people showed up during the lunch rush. Lines extended to the back of the restaurant into the seating area.

And, by 2 p.m., there were still crowds of people, inching through the drive-through lane. 

In nearby Snellville, people parked at nearby church when Chick-fil-A's lot got full. The restaurant was packed wall-to-wall with people, showing support of the well-known food chain.

"I believe that we should have our freedom of speech even if we don’t agree," said Maxine Hook, "We should be able to speak how we feel.  I don’t condemn them for what they believe and they shouldn’t condemn us for what we believe."

In Loganville, police and fire officials were called to manage crowds at a Chick-fil-A there, according to . Fire officials were stationed at each side of the restaurant, only letting more people in one door as customers left via the other.

And, police also helped control traffic that backed up on U.S. Highway 78.

Loganville Chick-fil-A owner Edgar Brush said he'd never seen crowds like the ones today. "I thought I might even double what we usually do, but nothing like this," he was quoted as saying.

In response to Huckabee's call for support for Chick-fil-A, another group, Fund for the Public Interest, called for a National Same-Sex Kiss Day at Chick-fil-A on Friday.

As of Tuesday at 5:20 p.m., some 9,507 people had responded "yes" and 2,868 gave a "maybe."