Chick-fil-A appreciation day brings huge crowds to fast-food chain

In an unusual act of fast-food activism , Americans opposed to same-sex marriage were encouraged to dine at the chain restaurant Chick-fil-A today. Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and Fox News contributor, created the event after the chicken sandwich chain CEO Dan Cathy expressed his opposition to the unions in mid-July during an interview with the Baptist Press. The company has a history of donating millions to causes that oppose same-sex marriage, and in the interview, Cathy said: We are very much supportive of the family – 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. We give God thanks for that. The Facebook group for the event lists more than 615,000 attendees and on social media people are sharing photos of the packed restaurants. @ seanhannity @ michellemalkin chick fil-a on 120th in Thornton, CO. Not a single protester...and PACKED. twitter.com/buckglenn/stat… — Buck Glenn (@buckglenn) August 1, 2012 In Fayetteville, North Carolina, lines extended into the restaurant's parking lot. Supporters of Chick-fil-a on Skibo. long lines should be expected most of the day. # fayobserver # gaymarriage twitter.com/CaitlinDineen/… — Caitlin Dineen (@CaitlinDineen) August 1, 2012 A West Virginia reporter spotted the state governor in line at the fast-food chain. Long line at @ chicfila , sales could double today, says manager... And yes that's Bill Maloney in line twitter.com/diversenWOWK/s… — David Iversen (@diversenWOWK) August 1, 2012 Inside a packed Chick-fil-A location in Louisville, Kentucky: @ bretbaier either Louisville really likes Chick-Fil-A or they are trying to make a statement twitter.com/AdamWaldner/st… — Waldo (@AdamWaldner) August 1, 2012 South Carolina congressman Jeff Duncan is a Tea Party caucus member. Bought # chickfila for the office this afternoon. Never tasted so good. twitter.com/RepJeffDuncan/… — Rep. Jeff Duncan (@RepJeffDuncan) August 1, 2012 NBC Philadelphia nabbed a helicopter view of the Warrington, Pennsylvania line. Wow. Look at the line of cars outside Chick-fil-a on Easton Road in Warrington. # CFA yfrog.com/h0lj9eklj — NBC Philadelphia (@NBCPhiladelphia) August 1, 2012 Same-sex marriage supporters protested at a Little Rock, Arkansas Chick-fil-A. Line of customers to the street, where there's a line of protestors at Chick Fil A in Little Rock twitter.com/SonofConway/st… — Josh Bramlett (@SonofConway) August 1, 2012 In Huntsville, Alabama, lines wrapped into the main thoroughfare. This is the Chick-fil-A line at the University Drive location. Lines seem longer than usual. twitter.com/waff48/status/… — waff48 (@waff48) August 1, 2012 Meanwhile, rival fast-food chain Wendy's is embroiled in its own publicity nightmare after one location displayed support for its fast-food brethren. A friend took this near Columbia, SC. Looks like @ wendys is joining @ chickfila . # gayrights # lgbt CC: @ hrc twitter.com/757Tweet/statu… — 757Tweet (@757Tweet) August 1, 2012 @ thomasaroberts @ rjasoncottrell @ tlrd An independent franchisee posted the sign, which he’s taken down.We proudly serve ALL customers! — Wendy's (@Wendys) August 1, 2012 Wendy's tried to head off the controversy with a tweet saying they were proud to serve all customers. But the implication that Chick-fil-A discriminated against its customers provoked a barrage of negative responses. @ dloesch Dana - not what we meant. Just that we're honored to serve all! (hitting tweet limits today so trying to keep replies limited) — Wendy's (@Wendys) August 1, 2012 On Facebook , Guardian readers shared mixed reviews of the event. Jewel Johnson supported the appreciation day and wrote: "Good job supporters for coming out in force. This company is going to make more money today than any other day of the year. That's what happens when you put Jesus first." Trevor O'Mara had a very different take on the event, he wrote: "You don't usually see people so proudly displaying their bigotry."