As the fast-moving Volcano blaze scorched hundreds of acres at Santa Rosa Plateau today, things were also heating up at a local eatery that has recently come under fire for statements made against the idea of same-sex marriage.
Protesters and supporters gather at Chick-fil-A at Temecula. (Photo courtesy of Gary Lange)
According to Temecula resident and citizen reporter Gary Lange, hundreds of Chick-fil-A fans and supporters gathered at the Temecula location today to lend their support to the embattled restaurant.
Read: Chick-fil-A supporters rally in Northridge
The company has endured nationwide criticism and threats of boycotts after CEO Dan Cathy made his stance against same-sex marriage known.
The scene was one that occurred with similar events planned today up and down the Southern California coastline.
Roughly 200 residents waited over an hour in line to place and receive their orders with the line stretching out the door and into the parking lot, according to Lange.
Photo gallery courtesy of Gary Lange:
Standing close by were about two dozen protesters, carrying signs and stopping motorists coming out of the drive-thru to express their opinions on the matter.
Officers with the Temecula Police Department maintained a presence at the scene, ensuring a peaceful protest.
If you find yourself at the scene of breaking news, send your citizen report to kerri.mabee(at)swrnn.com or stephanie.schulte(at)swrnn.com.
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So ridiculous! I personally believe in the biblical definition of marriage, but I could care less if others do. I go to Starbucks about four days a week and they support same sex marriage as a corporation—who CARES??!! Chick-fil-A has every right to free speech as does Starbucks. Last I looked at Chick-fil-A’s hiring portfolio, they employ gays and straights alike. Jeesh–free speech is only for some now? And yes, everyone has the right to “protest”…but having two Mayors vow to disallow a food joint based on the above–a serious threat to the American way!
Susie Qu, thank you.
They sell chicken sandwiches. Why does their opinion on gay marriage carry any weight whatsoever?
I care susie qu. most people aren’t cool with same sex marriage. it’s wrong for our kids who grow up in a man and woman relationship. it fry’s their brain when they are told about 2 people of the same sex getting married. have a look at a gay porn video and tell me if it’s cool. I can guaranty you that you would puke. it’s wrong, its the ultimate sin and I don’t support any business who supports it. I won’t be spending my money here anymore. now I think I will go get me a tuna sandwitch…….
Mikey – read the story again and inform yourself. The people eating at Chick-Fil-A retaurants today are there because the company CEO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN SAME SEX MARRIAGE. He has made numerous public comments supporting the Christian view of marrage, and his company has contrbuted hundreds of thousands of dollars to Anti Gay and Lesbian groups.
Prior to today, people in the Lesbian and Gay community were calling for people to boycott Chick-Fil-A restaurants because of their strong stance against same sex marriage. As a result, hundreds of thousands of anti-gay marriage protestors arraged a “Chick-fil-a appreciation day” by simply patronizing the restaurant chain today.
So again, if your opinion (as you clearly expressed) is that same-sex marriage is wrong, then why would you never be eating at Chick-fil-a again?!?
Oh for heaven’s sake…misunderstood here!! I am (was) saying that what a company believes about the “institute of marriage” isn’t what is important here (please don’t stop reading just because I said that)..what IS important is that we live in a free speech republic. The first amendment gives us the right to express opinions no matter how popular or politically correct. I think Chick-fil-A has every right to stand behind “traditional marriage” and Starbucks also has the right to stand behind “same sex marriage”. In the same respect anyone who disagrees with either of these stances have the right NOT to frequent the establishment as well as protest. People also have the right to come out in support and make it demonstrative. That is the beauty of living in America. What is NOT okay is for an elected official to try and “oust” a business from a town, state or country by vowing to stop the building of the establishment. That is an abuse of power and unconstitutional. As I re-iterate from my first post: Chick-fil-A doesn’t discriminate against employees or patrons for any reason whatsoever. They hire and sell to everyone regardless.
There were lots more than mere hundreds at both the Temecula and Murrieta locations.
And this was not about being anti gay…it was about protecting FREE SPEECH. It was a calm and silent form of a buycott. Nothing sinister, nothing mean.
And for the person who threw a bottle of juice. That was uncalled for, but I do recall when the TEA Party Protestors were down at the duck pond and the police were called because supposedly a bottle was thrown. Match that up with the violence of the OCCUPY movement and what do you notice. Some PEACEFULLY assemble as is a right offered by our Constitution and others do not.
Of the hundreds of locations across this great nation and all the people standing in the heat…I have not heard of any ruckus. Just fed up people saying enough is enough.
Susie I couldn’t agree more. I have my own views on gay marriage but I wish food would be left as food and nothing more. I don’t wanna eat a chicken sandwich and suddenly be against gay marriage. I don’t wanna eat Oreos and suddenly be for gay marriage. I just wanna eat a chicken sand which with a bag of Oreos in peace with out having to choose a side. And Mikey, seriously read what your writing before you speak. You’re not only arguing with someone on your side but you’re saying gay porn is a sin? No duh Sherlock Holmes! Isn’t porn in general a sin? And at what point did you decide to watch gay porn in the first place?
#1 The CEO has a right to say he supports traditional marriage.
#2 The left has a right to say they hate Chick-fil-A and organize a boycott. (regardless of its epic backfiring failure)
#3Government officials do NOT have the right to threaten a business based on the 1st Amendment expressions of its owner.
I was one of the people who helped organize this particular protest. For those of the members in line at Chik Fil A who gave us the time of day to read the cited flyer we were handing out, and listen to the actual cause of our protest, thank you. Everyone else assumed we were there to protest what Mr. Dan Cathy had to say about gay marriage. As this is a country that allows us to have an opinion, this is of no concern to us. What does concern us is the fact that people are unwilling to educate themselves as to where their money is going. We were there to educate, and as this article has stated, we were there peacefully and only spoke to those who were willing to speak to us. Unfortunately, we did have to call the police because a man threw a bottle of juice at one of our young lady’s face. A report was made, and the police were nice enough to stay a while to ensure the safety of everyone thereafter.
If anyone reads this, please, please research at least one of the organizations that Chik Fil A donates to. I would recommend Exodus International, their work with same sex conversion therapy, and what that American Psychological and American Psychiatric Associations have to say on the matter. Ultimately, our protest was about saving lives.
Martha, spare me I’m here to save lives dance please!
Mike, when you are funding organizations that lead to individuals committing suicide it becomes about saving lives. So no, I won’t spare you the dance.
You are right Peter…Sometimes a chicken sandwich is just a chicken sandwich, and an oreo is just an oreo
Martha, I can expect to see your group back at Chick-Fill-A on friday for National Kiss Same Sex Day?
@Mike. No, that event is completely separate from the event we organized here. Although I completely support the idea that LGBT couples should be able to express their love the same way heterosexual couples can, I am not sure that this particular event will do much to inform consumers of the facts.
Martha, kind of a double standard. You want to educate one group who I would say from your posts doesnt agree with you but a group who does agree with you doesnt deserve the same education or it is that you just wanted to be where you knew people would resist. Just curious, where does anyone stop gays from expressing their love the same way as hetros?
Mike, I’m not sure where you are seeing the double standard. Perhaps it is a misunderstanding of information. We were there to let customers know of where their money ends up and the consequences of this fact. Those who participated in the protest today are either aware of this, or were simple not planning on financially supporting the chain. I’m not sure what you would like me to educate them of, considering what I have just said.
As for public displays of affection, I never said that anyone stopped LGBT couples from displaying their love. I do think, however, that societal norms tend to prevent such couples from pda. For example, when I kiss my husband or hold his hand I don’t typically get any form of response from anyone. On the contrary, my gay cousin has experienced horrible things yelled at him for simply walking hand in hand with his boyfriend.
Anyways, Mike. As much as I would love to continue discussing my personal beliefs with you, what I really wanted to make clear was the cause of our protest. As I have done this, I thank you for your comments and wish you the best