The opening of America’s famous fast-food Chick-fil-A in Toronto, Canada was met with both excitement and hate. There are customers who waited patiently in line outside just to get a bite of chicken and fries and there are those who called for a boycott.
Liberation TO, an animal rights organization and 519, an LGBT group, staged a protest during opening day on Friday with signs that read “Don’t Eat Hate,” “Cluck-off,” Chick-fil-a is full of homophobia, and “Baaaad chicken,” among others. Some members of the LGBTQ group wore drag clothes and brought rainbow-colored flags. According to the Toronto Star, at one point the protesters laid side-by-side on the ground in a “die-in” demonstration.
People are protesting outside the opening of #Toronto's first Chick-fil-A location – 📹 @RonaldJayQ pic.twitter.com/rmUTnAEo47
— blogTO (@blogTO) September 6, 2019
One of the protesters got into an argument with a customer while others chanted “Chick-fil-A go away, homo vegans here to stay.” The protesters hope that with their rally, they are making the people aware of where their money is going given the history of the establishment.
“I’d like to think that a lot of the people don’t know (about the company’s history). And if they do, that’s a choice they’re making. Maybe we’ve changed their mind today,” Helena Poison, one of the protesters, said.
The company has faced hate allegations in the past for its stand against same-sex marriage. According to reports, the establishment donates money to anti-LGBTQ organizations.
However, this shouldn’t be the basis to stop it from operating in any location or country they want. As one customer said, Chick-fil-A has the right to open anywhere they want. Some of these customers do not even agree with the company’s opinion about the LGBTQ community but they’re there to eat good food.
The line to get into the Toronto @ChickfilA goes around the corner and down the street. It is bigger than the loud protests out front. Interesting view just before lunch. pic.twitter.com/7XzG05WuEq
— Brian Lilley (@brianlilley) September 6, 2019
Despite the hate, the establishment continues to spread positivity. Wilson Yang, the operator at the Toronto Chick-fil-A, said he “respects people’s right to share their opinions.” He even encouraged everyone to try the food and added that Chick-fil-A only wants to offer a “welcoming and respectful environment” for their staff and customers.
Chick-fil-A is a Christian-owned company that operates on one founding goal and that’s to “glorify God by being a faithful steward” and “to have a positive influence on all who come into contact” with the establishment. They even close on Sundays to give time for worship.