Protest Planned for Oswego Chick-fil-A Opening Day

A local resident is asking the community to join in a peaceful protest when Chick-fil-A restaurant opens Thursday, Aug. 23, in light of recent remarks the fast food chain's president made against same sex marriage.

On a Facebook page created to organize the event, Beck Gipson, an graduate, said the president of Chick-fil-A “has not only come out and spoken against gay marriage but has admitted that part of the funds they make from the restaurant are donated to organizations against gay marriage.”

“It’s been reported that Dan Cathy has donated ($5 million) dollars to organizations that are fighting against gay marriage. I for one do not want this kind of hate in my town,” Gipson wrote on the page. 

The protest, slated for 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Route 34 store will entail, according to the event page, “peacefully standing across the street and letting everyone that eats there and anyone passing by know by eating there you are funding hate.”

Attempts to reach Gipson were unsuccessful.

Last week, Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy said his business was "guilty as charged" in support of the "biblical definition of the family unit," according to the AP.

Donald Perry, vice president of corporate public relations for Chick-fil-A, said in a statement the restaurant is a “family-owned and family-led company serving the communities in which it operates.”

“From the day Truett Cathy started the company, he began applying biblically-based principles to managing his business,” he said. “For example, we believe that closing on Sundays, operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of our profits back to our communities are what make us a stronger company and Chick-fil-A family.”

Perry said the restaurant’s culture and service tradition “is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender.”

“Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena,” Perry said. “Our mission is simple: to serve great food, provide genuine hospitality and have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct a misidentification in gender. We regret the error.