FILE – This Thursday, July 19, 2012 file photo shows a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant in Atlanta. Earlier this month, Chick-fil-A set off a furor opposing same-sex unions. Other companies are brushing off fears that support for gay marriage could hurt their bottom line. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)
The popular fast food chicken chain Chick-fil-A opened their first Toronto location today to long lines of excited customers and a crowd of unhinged protesters.
Fox News reports:
The grand opening of Chick-fil-A’s first international location in Toronto was met by a grand protest Friday by LGBTQ activists, who argued that the chicken-centric chain owner’s historically antigay policies will clash with the culture of Canada’s largest city.
Protestors caused a commotion as soon as the restaurant opened its doors at 10:30 a.m., chanting “shame” and “cluck you,” CBC News reports.
“Hey hey, ho ho, Homophobia’s got to go,” activists can be heard shouting in video shared to Twitter by BlogTo.
[…]
Fans of the fried chicken chain, meanwhile, were said to have lined up as early as 6:30 a.m. to await the grand opening, CTV News Toronto reports.
Global Toronto’s Mark Carcasole was on the scene to report on the story and posted photos and videos of what took place:
The Yonge & Bloor Chick-fil-A is now open. As promised, at least a hundred LGBTQ and animal rights activists are here, loudly protesting out front. pic.twitter.com/3WquiQZBNM
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) September 6, 2019
Protester addresses the crowd on a megaphone outside the #ChickfikA store. pic.twitter.com/AEao19ggyE
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) September 6, 2019
Protesters outside TO #ChickfilA chant “we will not be silenced.” Say they plan to protest at all 15 GTA locations planned for this chain. pic.twitter.com/so5F0hqCqM
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) September 6, 2019
Some of the protesters even staged a ‘die-in’:
Animal rights activists now staging a die-in outside the #ChickfilA’s front entrance. pic.twitter.com/vUmToWssuA
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) September 6, 2019
But as this short video from “blogTO” shows, customers ignored those laying on the ground and stepped over them to get into the restaurant (watch towards the end):
Protesters are staging a die-in at the entrance of #Toronto's first Chick-fil-A location – 📹 @RonaldJayQ pic.twitter.com/Cus1U6uYBw
— blogTO (@blogTO) September 6, 2019
Heh.
Video from Carcasole also confirmed that the protests did not stop customers from stopping by to enjoy some delicious chicken sandwiches and waffle fries:
Despite the protest, the lunchtime lineup outside #TO #ChickfilA remains as long as it was this morning. pic.twitter.com/LptTBK2xKS
— Mark Carcasole (@MarkCarcGlobal) September 6, 2019
It just goes to show you that in Canada, just like here in the United States, cravings for good food and spectacular service will not be denied.
(Hat tip: Twitchy)
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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 15+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –
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