MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, as dubbed by former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, began as an organized effort to eat at the fast food chain to support the CEO's recent comment supporting biblical marriage.
That demonstration snowballed into a widespread "eat-in" countered by an unexpected protest at Midtown's Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Germantown Pastor LaSimba Gray met with a group of fellow ministers to eat lunch at the Chick-fil-A on Winchester Road.
"We're asking freedom-loving, chicken-eating Christians to support Mr. Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A," said Pastor Gray. "We going to go in eat some good gospel bird."
As Chick-fil-A supporters lined up at locations across the Mid-South, another type of protest formed at Kentucky Fried Chicken in Midtown.
"They can support an agenda of freedom of equality or they can support an agenda of theocratic fascism," said Edward Frick, KFC patron. "I'm choosing to support an agenda of freedom and equality at a gay-friendly business...Kentucky Fried Chicken."
Tennessee Equality Project president Jonathan Cole said the demonstration was a lesson for all that it does matter where you spend your dollars.
"I don't support businesses that actively contribute to hate groups which try to take away my civil rights," said Cole.
Cole's comments offended Pastor Gray.
"It is an insult to me to say it's a civil rights issue to align it with the African-American struggle for justice in this country," he said.
Either way, Cole says it is about equality.
"I'm here supporting a pro-equality business that values their employees and has taken a pro-equality stance and their business practices," Cole said.
On Friday, pro-equality groups will hold a "Kiss Mor Chiks" demonstration across the country. Gay rights activists are encouraging same-sex couples to show up at Chick-fil-A restaurants and kiss.
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