A Florida employee of Chick-fil-A rushed to the rescue of a mother and her baby when a man attempted to carjack the mother’s car, police announced Wednesday.
Mykel Gordon ran toward the mother’s car after she had taken her child out of the car and William Branch, 43, of DeFuniak Springs, brandishing a stick, allegedly seized her keys from her waistband. Branch then got in the car as the woman screamed for help, prompting Gordon to yank Branch out of the car and struggle with him on the ground.
“A major shout-out to this young man for his courage!” the Okaloosa Sheriff’s office tweeted accompanying a video of the incident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In reference to the FWB Chick-fil-A employee who ran to help a woman with a baby who was being carjacked, we want to say a sincere thank you to Ms. Kelner for providing video of a portion of the encounter. (see prior post). A major shout-out to this young man for his courage! <a href="https://t.co/2Lcwe46azv">pic.twitter.com/2Lcwe46azv</a>
&mdash; OkaloosaSheriff (@OCSOALERTS) <a href="https://twitter.com/OCSOALERTS/status/1570163338918625286?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Matthew Sexton, who runs the Chick-fil-A branch in Fort Walton Beach where the incident occurred, told <a href="https://www.wapt.com/article/chick-fil-a-worker-praised-for-helping-a-woman-with-baby-who-was-being-carjacked/41225280" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CNN</a>, “I&#8217;m grateful for my amazing Team Member, Mykel Gordon, who so selflessly jumped in to intervene and help our Guests. I couldn&#8217;t be prouder of his incredible act of care.”
After Gordon tackled Branch, other employees joined in the effort to subdue the suspect.
Chick-fil-A employees have a long record of helping customers above and beyond the call of duty; in October 2019, after a woman dropped her phone and it slid into a storm drain, a Virginia employee of the Chick-fil-A not only refunded her food order but also did something incredible, pulling the manhole cover up from the street and then actually climbing down into the drain to retrieve her phone.
As <a href="https://katu.com/news/offbeat/chick-fil-a-climbs-down-storm-drain-to-get-customers-phone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KATU</a> reported, Shauna Hall, from Stafford, Virginia, told her story <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shauna.hall07/posts/10219623415954385?__tn__=K-R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on Facebook</a>, saying that the young man “calls the county trying to get some help. They hang up on him but we get the idea to go back out and call my phone to see if we can hear it (fearing we won’t as the hole is most definitely full of water because of course we are in the middle of a drought but had a full day of rain yesterday).”
&#8220;He then climbs down into the hole and retrieves my phone which miraculously is not broken or wet. I was so thankful I freaking hugged him. Not only did he slice his finger and was filthy from laying on the ground and climbing in the hole, I find out he had actually just gotten off shift and was still willing to help me,&#8221; she added.
For other examples of employees of Chick-fil-A going beyond the call of duty, there was the time a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/worlds-best-service-chick-fil-manager-sends-boat-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chick-fil-A manager sent a boat to rescue an elderly couple in Houston</a>, or the time an employee of Chick-fil-A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-chick-fil-employee-shows-why-chick-fil-wins-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ran after a car whose occupant had forgotten their order</a>. Another time, a teenage boy working at a Chick-fil-A looked through the drive-thru window and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-teenage-chick-fil-employee-does-something-hank-berrien" target="_blank" rel="noopener">noticed that a 6-year-old boy in a car in the drive-thru lane was choking</a>, so he jumped through the drive-thru window and ran to the car. Once there, he found the mother of the boy begging for someone to help her save her child from being choked by a seatbelt that had gotten tangled around his neck. He then yanked out his pocketknife and cut the young child free.
RELATED: <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-employee-goes-underground-to-save-a-customers-day/">Chick-Fil-A Employee Goes Underground To Save A Customer’s Day</a>

US-ECONOMY-RETAIL-FOOD

WATCH: Chick-Fil-A Employee Saves Mother, Baby From Carjacker

Chick-Fil-A Employee Saves Mother, Baby From Carjacker: Police

carjacking

Chick-fil-A

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mcdonalds">McDonald’s</a> is bringing a popular U.K. menu item to its American customers as the so-called “chicken sandwich wars” rage on.
Now some patrons will be able to get their beloved <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/food">Big Mac</a> sandwich with chicken instead of beef, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/08/22/mcdonalds-finally-brings-hit-twist-on-classic-big-mac-to-the-us/">reported</a>, as the fast food chain competes with rivals such as Popeyes and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/chick-fil-a">Chick-fil-A</a>. The menu addition has already been a big hit across the pond, which leads McDonald’s execs to believe the new Big Mac will be well-received stateside as well. USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2022/08/21/mcdonalds-chicken-big-mac-united-states/7860782001/">reported</a> that the chicken Big Mac was such a sensation there that it sold out completely in two weeks.
&#8220;We&#8217;re always looking to give our fans more ways to enjoy the classic menu items they know and love,&#8221; McDonald&#8217;s said in a statement. &#8220;Made with two crispy tempura chicken patties, our iconic Big Mac sauce, and topped off with pickles, shredded lettuce, and American cheese, this sandwich brings some of our fans&#8217; favorite flavors together for the perfect bite.&#8221;
The chicken-based sandwich will debut for a limited time in certain Miami locations. If it’s successful, there’s a chance of this alternative Big Mac being expanded to other regions.
“Chicken continues to be a significant opportunity for us. … We’ve got some great global equities already in our McNuggets and with McChicken, but we also have some equities in McCrispy and McSpicy that we think we’ve got an opportunity to do more with globally. So that’s going to be a priority area,” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said in a Q2 earnings call, per the Post.
“While not everything we test makes it on our U.S. menus, we’ll use this time to gather feedback from both customers and restaurant crew as we consider opportunities to offer more delicious options in the future,&#8221; the company said.
McDonald’s is the highest-grossing fast food chain in the United States, but Chick-fil-A has been steadily climbing in popularity and bested Burger King as of 2020 to become the second most popular fast food restaurant on the list, per <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/chick-fil-a-lands-behind-mcdonalds-as-second-highest-grossing-fast-food-chain">Fox News</a>. 
Meanwhile, a poll by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) <a href="https://www.franchisewire.com/why-is-chick-fil-a-better-than-mcdonalds/">found</a> that Chick-fil-A was far more popular with customers from a satisfaction standpoint. It topped the poll with a score of 83 on the scale, while McDonald’s only achieved a score of 70.
The items used to calculate satisfaction included staff courtesy and helpfulness, checkout/delivery speed, the accuracy of the order, restaurant layout and cleanliness, food and beverage variety and quality, mobile app quality and reliability, and website.

Fast Food Hong Kong 2018

McDonald’s Debuts New Big Mac Version As ‘Chicken Sandwich Wars’ Rage On

McDonald's Debuts New Big Mac Version As 'Chicken Sandwich Wars' Rage On

Food

McDonald’s

Miami

United Kingdom

Chick-fil-A has been ranked as America&#8217;s favorite restaurant in an annual survey, marking the chain&#8217;s eighth consecutive win.
The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) <a href="https://www.theacsi.org/news-and-resources/press-releases/2022/06/28/press-release-restaurant-study-2021-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> this year&#8217;s rankings on Tuesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChickfilA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChickfilA</a> continues to lead the industry – and all restaurants – for the 8th straight year with a steady score of 83 (out of 100).
Download our study to see how other fast food and full-service restaurants ranked in customer satisfaction: <a href="https://t.co/3udsQk6Ghb">https://t.co/3udsQk6Ghb</a> <a href="https://t.co/XSvEQSbPEJ">pic.twitter.com/XSvEQSbPEJ</a>
&mdash; The ACSI (@theACSI) <a href="https://twitter.com/theACSI/status/1542610186703183874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“The large group of smaller full-service restaurants experiences substantial deterioration in mobile app quality, contributing to a steep decline for the industry overall, which tumbles 8% to 78,” says Forrest Morgeson, Assistant Professor of Marketing at Michigan State University and Director of Research Emeritus at the ACSI.
“Amid the pandemic, restaurants needed to quickly up their game in the mobile arena. With fewer resources, smaller chains and independent restaurants are offering apps that aren’t making the grade per customers. In contrast, positive shifts in both mobile app quality and reliability for several larger chains appear to reflect major app updates for these bigger industry players,&#8221; he added.
Chick-fil-A&#8217;s <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/chick-fil-a-americas-favorite-restaurant-8th-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to Fox News Digital was quick to thank its customers for the honor.
“We are honored by the results of this survey and we are grateful to our customers for choosing Chick-fil-A – it’s truly our pleasure to serve them,” the statement read.
“More than 170,000 people represent Chick-fil-A in 2,700 restaurants,” the spokesperson said. “This recognition is acknowledgment of the care they put into serving great food with gracious hospitality.  Every day, our restaurant Team Members go above and beyond each day to create a friendly, welcoming place to visit,&#8221; it added.
Chick-fil-A led all restaurants overall and was also the winner in the fast-food category. Behind Chick-fil-A in second place in the fast-food segment was Jimmy John&#8217;s, followed by Domino&#8217;s Pizza and KFC. Other high-ranking franchises included Chipotle, Panera Bread, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks.
The survey revealed that more Americans prefer sit-down dining over a fast-food experience despite Chick-fil-A&#8217;s win.
&#8220;Customers agree that sit-down spots outperform fast food chains when it comes to food order accuracy (87 to 83), restaurant layout and cleanliness (84 to 81), food quality (86 to 81), and food variety (84 to 79),&#8221; the ACSI report added.
Chick-fil-A has become so popular that long lines at the drive-thru at some franchises have become a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-could-be-declared-a-public-nuisance-in-santa-barbara" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concern</a> for communities. In California, the Santa Barbara City Council considered labeling a location a public nuisance over long lines that back up into nearby streets and caused traffic issues.
The franchise&#8217;s traditional values have also led to controversies in some parts of the nation. In 2021, Democratic state legislators in New York pushed to keep Chick-fil-A out of rest stops in the state because of past donations to organizations that are allegedly anti-LGBTQ.
The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ny-democrats-move-to-ban-chick-fil-a-from-rest-stops-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that Democratic Assembly Member Harry Bronson, who represents the Rochester area, started an online petition to prevent Chick-fil-A from being included among the restaurants being added to rest stops along I-90 in the New York State Thruway Authority’s $450 million service-state modernization project, according to <a href="https://www.rochesterfirst.com/food-and-drink/bronson-critical-of-involvement-of-chick-fil-a-in-i-90-rest-stop-plans/?utm_campaign=socialflow&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=t.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RochesterFirst.com</a>.

Chick-Fil-A Ranked America’s Favorite Restaurant for 8th Consecutive Year

Chick-Fil-A Ranked America's Favorite Restaurant for 8th Consecutive Year

LGBTQ

restaurants

Chick-fil-A might be declared a public nuisance in one California city if the restaurant doesn&#8217;t find a way to tame its drive-thru line.
Santa Barbara is forcing the local Chick-fil-A to present a solution to the restaurant&#8217;s long lines that back up into nearby streets, causing traffic issues.
&#8220;A California city is considering declaring its local Chick-fil-A drive-thru a public nuisance – not because people dislike it, but because they seem to like it too much,&#8221; KTLA <a href="https://kfor.com/news/california-city-may-declare-chick-fil-a-a-public-nuisance/">reported</a>. &#8220;The last several years, Santa Barbara says it has received several complaints about cars in the drive-thru line backed up onto nearby streets, which has caused traffic problems, including collisions and cyclist safety issues.&#8221;
“State Street is one of the City’s most important streets for moving people and goods,” <a href="https://newspress.com/sb-city-council-grapples-with-chick-fil-a-issue/">said</a> Derrick Bailey, a city transportation engineer. “It was never intended to operate with significant blockage.”
Chick-fil-A drive-thru lines can reportedly block one lane on State Street for an estimated 91 minutes during the week, KTLA noted. And during weekends, the number shoots up to 155 minutes.
The restaurant has until June 7 to present their solution to the issue to city council. &#8220;However, if the city council is not happy, and declares the restaurant a public nuisance, Chick-fil-A could lose its nonconforming use status for the drive-thru facilities,&#8221; KTLA said.
Santa Barbara Chick-fil-A owner Travis Collins said his team regrets &#8220;this traffic situation&#8221; and is working toward a solution.
“On behalf of myself, Chick-fil-A and the many team members, we sincerely regret that this traffic situation has come to this point and heartily wish to work in good faith with the City to resolve this matter once and for all,” Collins said.
Back in 2020, then-CEO Dan Cathy made waves when he publicly called on white people to repent of their racism and justified anti-police rioters looting and burning down a Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, following the death of Rayshard Brooks. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-ceo-appears-to-justify-rioters-burning-down-wendys-restaurant-urges-white-people-to-repent-of-racism?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwbrand">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>“We as caucasians, until we’re willing to just pick up the baton and fight for our black, African-American brothers and sisters, which they are as one human race, we’re shameful,” Cathy said, according to <a href="https://www.bucksexton.com/content/2020-06-18-chick-fil-a-ceo-white-christians-should-repent-of-racism/">BuckSexton.com</a>. “We’re just adding to it.”
“Our silence is so huge at this time,” he said, channeling the far-left refrain that “silence is violence.” “We cannot be silent. Somebody has to fight and God has so blessed our city, but it’s shameful how we let things get so out of whack.”
Then, before literally polishing the shoes of Christian rapper Lecrae, who is black, Cathy added that white Christians should have a “sense of shame” and an “apologetic heart.”
“Any expressions of a contrite heart, of a sense of humility, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment … an apologetic heart,” he said, “I think that’s what our world needs to hear today.”
&#8230; During the same sit-down, the chicken chain CEO seemed to justify the burning down of a Wendy’s restaurant in Atlanta, citing black people’s “incredible amounts of frustration and pain” that “white people” are “simply just out-of-sight, out-of-mind oblivious to.”</blockquote>
In 2019, Chick-fil-A announced a stop to their donations to Christian-based charities deemed “anti-LGBT” by the Left, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-chick-fil-a-to-stop-donating-to-christian-charities-branded-anti-lgbt">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>In an interview with <a href="https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/exclusive-amid-global-expansion-and-lgbt-pushback-chick-fil-a-changes-charitable-giving-structure-101818">Bisnow</a>, Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos announced that the famous fried chicken chain plans to make significant changes in which charities it donates to, in part because “as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.” Amid continued boycotts of the highly popular and successful chain over its donations to supposed “anti-LGBT” groups and causes, Tassopoulos revealed that the company’s foundation will no longer donate to some high-profile Christian organizations.</blockquote>
In the aftermath of the announcement, LGBT group GLAAD <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/glaads-response-to-chick-fil-a-cave-is-exactly-what-youd-expect">ripped</a> the company for still allegedly falling short of meeting its requirements.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-ceo-appears-to-justify-rioters-burning-down-wendys-restaurant-urges-white-people-to-repent-of-racism?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=dwbrand">WATCH: Chick-Fil-A CEO Appears To Justify Rioters Burning Down Wendy’s, Urges White People To Repent Of Racism</a>

Chick-Fil-A Could Be Declared A ‘Public Nuisance’ In Santa Barbara

A group of students, faculty, and alumni at Notre Dame University sent a letter asking the campus dining leadership to ban Chick-fil-A from the Indiana school&#8217;s retail dining master plan.
The open <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lSfJPnZBSAx3Oe0hfX43O215jBtI9QlIiQZLDI6d7eA/edit" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">letter</a> (full text below), which was signed by approximately 180 students, faculty, and alumni, follows <a href="https://ndsmcobserver.com/2021/07/keep-chick-fila-away/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a 720-word letter</a> that two undergraduates sent to campus newspaper The Observer, listing their grievances against the fast food chain.
&#8220;The letter writers, Tilly Keeven-Glascock and Joey Jegier, accused Chick-fil-A of donating millions to &#8216;queerphobic groups,&#8217; which they said include the nonprofit Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And they objected to owner Dan Cathy’s personal donations to organizations like the National Christian Charitable Foundation, which they alleged &#8216;funds hate groups,'&#8221; Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/notre-dame-chick-fil-a" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reported</a>.
&#8220;Keeven-Glascock and Jegier also claimed that because the restaurant chain gets its food from industrialized farming, it’s bad for the environment, &#8216;deplorable&#8217; and places a &#8216;burden&#8217; on &#8216;marginalized communities,'&#8221; Fox News added. &#8220;&#8216;North America has an obsession with meat like no other country on Earth and it is helping destroy the planet,&#8217; wrote the duo, a university senior and junior. (North America is a continent.)&#8221;
Read the full letter to the campus dining leadership below:
<blockquote>Dear Campus Dining,
Before we get to our request, we wish to thank the Campus Dining leadership for your work creating a quality dining experience for students during a global pandemic. You went above-and-beyond this past year, adapting the dining halls to meet CDC and University guidelines, providing impressive themed dinners, and making an excellent vegan line in the dining halls.
As you continue to improve Notre Dame’s on-campus dining, we wish to make our voices heard on an important issue. On May 12, the Campus Dining Instagram announced that leadership is considering the fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A as part of a new retail dining master plan. While a large portion of the student body would approve of this decision, we hope to show that many of us oppose the addition of Chick-fil-A.
We believe, as we wrote in The Observer, that there are a multitude of reasons to oppose Chick-fil-A: its anti-LGBTQ+ activism, reliance on animal agriculture, and lack of accommodations for students with special dietary needs, to name a few. Bringing Chick-fil-A to campus would run contrary to Notre Dame’s commitment to inclusion and desire to create good in the world. So, we ask that you remove Chick-fil-A from your considerations and instead consider other additions to our retail dining.
Students at other universities, such as NYU and Northeastern, have made headlines in their attempts to block Chick-fil-A. We have no plans for such a large-scale disruption; rather, we wish to resolve this concern before it transforms into a larger controversy. Thank you for considering our request, and we hope that this is the starter of wider dialogue on how to fulfill students’ desires while also considering the ethics of what we consume.</blockquote>
In a similar letter sent last week, Democratic state legislators in New York <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ny-democrats-move-to-ban-chick-fil-a-from-rest-stops-over" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">urged</a> New York State Thruway Authority Matthew Driscoll to ban Chick-fil-A from state rest stops because of the restaurant&#8217;s donations to allegedly anti-LGBT organizations.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-to-skip-notre-dame-commencement-amid-furor-over-policies-that-defy-church-teachings" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Biden To Skip Notre Dame Commencement Amid Furor Over Policies That Defy Church Teachings</a>

Notre Dame and Chick-fil-A

Notre Dame Students, Faculty, Alumni Complain About Plans To Put Chick-Fil-A On Campus

College

Education

Notre Dame University

Democratic state legislators in New York are pushing to keep Chick-fil-A out of rest stops in the state because of what they claim are the fast food chain&#8217;s donations to anti-LGBT organizations.
Democratic Assembly Member Harry Bronson, who represents the Rochester area, started an online petition to prevent Chick-fil-A from being included among the restaurants being added to rest stops along I-90 in the New York State Thruway Authority’s $450 million service-state modernization project, according to <a href="https://www.rochesterfirst.com/food-and-drink/bronson-critical-of-involvement-of-chick-fil-a-in-i-90-rest-stop-plans/?utm_campaign=socialflow&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=t.co" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RochesterFirst.com</a>.
Bronson sent a letter last Friday denouncing Chick-fil-A to New York State Thruway Authority Matthew Driscoll.
As RochesterFirst.com reported:
<blockquote>Bronson is one of four lawmakers saying no to [Chick-fil-A] at state rest stops. “Chick-fil-A, through the charitable wing of it’s business, has a history of donating millions of dollars to organizations that are discriminatory and anti-LGBTQ organizations.”
Bronson says New York has taken great strides to protect the rights of LGBTQ plus New Yorkers — but he’s worried this would be a step in the wrong direction. 
“We can’t say through those laws and through those policy positions and statements, that we support the dignity and human rights of LGBTQ individuals and their families and at the same time, have a state authority that’s willing to enter into a 30-year-lease with a business that has a history of not recognizing the human rights of LGBTQ individuals.”
Bronson says he understands people should be able to choose where they eat, but he believes this situation is different. “It’s on state thruway authority property and they are leasing it, so it’s in essence the state saying, ‘We are going to offer them an opportunity for them to earn millions and millions of dollars,’ even though we know what the history is.”</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
After years of millions in donations to organizations hostile to LGBTQ+ rights, the decision to approve <a href="https://twitter.com/ChickfilA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChickfilA</a> as an approved concession at our rest stops is concerning to say the least. 
It’s time the <a href="https://twitter.com/NYSThruway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NYSThruway</a> re-examine this choice. <a href="https://t.co/8sOkNRjQop">pic.twitter.com/8sOkNRjQop</a>
&mdash; Harry B. Bronson (@HarryBBronson) <a href="https://twitter.com/HarryBBronson/status/1413909370325413891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Thruway Authority <a href="https://www.news10.com/news/ny-news/gay-lawmakers-push-back-against-include-chick-fil-a-in-thruway-remodel/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">responded</a> in a statement:
<blockquote>The New York State Thruway Authority, its Board of Directors, and staff support an inclusive environment that treats the tens of millions of people that travel our system with dignity and respect. Our private partner in the Service Area redevelopment project, Empire State Thruway Partners, explored a selection of restaurants and finalized agreements with specific brands to operate at the redeveloped service areas to enhance and improve the travel experience for our customers. There are no state taxpayer dollars or toll payer funds supporting the redevelopment of the Thruway’s 27 service areas. Every restaurant brand included by Empire State Thruway Partners has a contractual responsibility, and is legally required, under New York State law, including the New York State Human Rights Law and Executive Orders, to adhere to the inclusive and non-discriminatory standards that New York State embraces.</blockquote>
In a statement to Fox News, Chick-fil-A <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/chick-fil-a-rest-stops-resistance-donations" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">said</a>, &#8220;We want to be clear that Chick-fil-A does not have a political or social agenda, and we welcome everyone in our restaurants. We are proud to be represented by more than 200,000 diverse team members nationwide, and we strive to be a positive influence in our local communities.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/burger-king-tries-to-troll-chick-fil-a-by-donating-to-lgbt-activist-org-even-on-sundays" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Burger King Tries To Troll Chick-Fil-A By Donating To LGBT Activist Org: ‘Even On Sundays’</a>

chick-fil-a

NY Democrats Move To Ban Chick-Fil-A From Rest Stops Over LGBT Views

New York

Burger King attempted to troll Chick-fil-A in a publicity stunt aimed at collecting donations for a left-wing, LGBT activist organization. 
Burger King recently launched its “Ch’King” sandwich as part of the national chicken sandwich “war.” In a June 3 tweet, Burger King announced that it would donate 40 cents to the Human Rights Campaign for every chicken sandwich sold during “Pride Month.” 
The fast food chain appeared to take aim at Chick-fil-A as it promised to donate “even on Sundays.” Burger King said it will donate up to $250,000 or 625,000 sandwiches. 
“The #ChKing says LGBTQ+ rights! During #pride month (even on Sundays) your chicken sandwich cravings can do good! We are making a donation to [The Human Rights Campaign] for every Ch’King sold.” 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChKing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChKing</a> says LGBTQ+ rights!
during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pride?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pride</a> month (even on Sundays 👀) your chicken sandwich craving can do good! we are making a donation* to <a href="https://twitter.com/HRC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HRC</a> for every Ch&#39;King sold 🏳️‍🌈
&mdash; Burger King (@BurgerKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BurgerKing/status/1400618810571362305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
On June 1, online activists called for a boycott of Chick-fil-A after <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/christian-billionaires-are-funding-a-push-to-kill-the-equality-act?ref=home">The Daily Beast</a> reported that the fast-food giant’s CEO, Dan Cathy, was a donor to the National Christian Charitable Foundation (NCF). NCF opposes the Equality Act, which would expand the Civil Rights Act to include protections for the LGBT community at the expense of religious liberty.
Burger King kickstarted its campaign after The Daily Beast’s article dropped. A spokesperson for Burger King told <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2021/06/06/burger-king-chicken-sandwhich-donate-lgbtq-group-chick-fil-a/7573712002/">USA Today</a> that the company couldn’t “miss an opportunity” like this one. 
“This is a community we love dearly and have proudly supported over the years, so we couldn’t miss an opportunity to take action and help shine a light on the important conversation happening,” the spokesperson said. 
Chick-fil-A, which has donated to conservative, Christian organizations, has been a source of controversy for liberal online trolls for years. In 2018, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey “boosted” Chick-fil-A in a tweet and received intense backlash from progressives. Dorsey <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/twitter-ceo-boosts-chick-fil-internet-melts-down-james-barrett">apologized</a> for admitting that he loves the fast food chain, which was considered an even more egregious sin to activists because he said it during Pride Month.
Burger King, by comparison, has been seen as a more progressive advocate. In July 2020, the fast food chain <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/burger-king-were-changing-our-cows-diet-cow-farts-and-burps-are-no-laughing-matter">announced</a> they planned to feed their cows lemongrass to reduce the amount of methane emissions from cow farts, which some say contribute to climate change.
“Cow farts &amp; burps are no laughing matter,” Burger King tweeted. “They release methane, contributing to climate change. That’s why we’re working to change our cows’ diet by adding lemongrass to reduce their emissions by approximately 33%.”
Burger King was also embroiled in a scandal after Burger King U.K. put out a supposedly misogynistic tweet aimed at encouraging more women to pursue work in culinary fields.
The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/burger-king-u-k-tries-to-celebrate-women-in-tweet-ends-up-apologizing">reported</a>: 
<blockquote>According to [Burger King], the majority of the culinary workforce is occupied by men. This led Burger King U.K. to tweet in support of more women entering the field in a celebration of International Women’s Day. The fast-food chain also used the day in order to announce a scholarship program, called H.E.R (Helping Equalize Restaurants), but the initial tweet was enough to upset users on Twitter. 
The controversial post was a series of tweets, beginning with “women belong in the kitchen,” followed up with “if they want to, of course.” Another tweet continued, “Yet only 20% of chefs are women. We’re on a mission to change the gender ratio in the restaurant industry by empowering female employees with the opportunity to pursue a culinary career.” </blockquote>

Burger King restaurant is pictured open at night.Bars and

Burger King Tries To Troll Chick-Fil-A By Donating To LGBT Activist Org: ‘Even On Sundays’

Burger King

Pride Month

Transgender

Fans of Chick-fil-A will have to choose their desired sauce wisely due to a shortage.
According to CNN, Chick-fil-A will now be limiting the number of sauces customers select to manage supply-chain issues.
&#8220;The chicken chain said Wednesday that industry-wide supply chain issues, which are <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/08/business/supply-chain-shortages-pandemic/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">affecting essentially every aspect of the economy</a>, has resulted in a &#8216;shortage of select items&#8217; that Chick-fil-A serves, including sauces,&#8221; reported the outlet.
Chick-fil-A will now only allow one dipping sauce per item. In a statement on its website, the famed fast-food restaurant said it will resolve the problem as soon as possible.
&#8220;We are actively working to make adjustments to solve this issue quickly and apologize to our guests for any inconvenience,&#8221; the company said.
CNN profiled the sharp burden placed on fast-food restaurants due to labor shortages in recent months, including chicken venues such as KFC, Wingstop, and others:
<blockquote>Fast food restaurants have been hit especially hard in recent months with both a labor shortage and supply chain issues. For example, ketchup packets have <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/08/business/ketchup-shortage-heinz/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">come in short supply</a> amid heightened demand. Heinz recently announced a 25% increase in production.
The fried chicken wars are putting a strain on the poultry population. Major chains, including KFC, Buffalo Wild Wings and Wingstop, are &#8220;paying steep prices&#8221; for chicken and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/11/business/chicken-shortage-tyson-roosters/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">suppliers are having trouble keeping up demand</a> because of difficulties attracting workers.
Luckily for Chick-fil-A, the company says it hasn&#8217;t been affected by the chicken shortage.</blockquote>
Chick-fil-A and conservatives had a bit of a falling-out in 2019 when the company severed its charitable donations to The Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes after LGBTQ activists branded them as homophobic. The Daily Wire&#8217;s Matt Walsh <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walsh-chick-fil-a-just-caved-to-the-rage-mob-theyre-about-to-learn-the-hard-way-that-surrendering-never-pays-off">argued</a> at the time that the company&#8217;s capitulation to the &#8220;rage mob&#8221; would do little to help its bottom-line by alienating its core supporters and drawing in no new customers since leftists would boycott the business either way.
&#8220;The change of heart is somewhat confounding. Yes, they’ve been boycotted on and off for the past seven years. Yes, LGBT activists were prone to lashing out at the restaurant’s &#8216;hate chicken,'&#8221; he wrote. &#8220;But none of this appeared to be negatively affecting the company’s bottom line. Indeed, the opposite was the case. The initial boycott in 2012 gave rise to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/us/chick-fil-a-appreciation/index.html">Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day</a>, where fans of the restaurant waited in lines wrapped around the block to show their support in the form of eating their delicious chicken. The enthusiasm never died. Chick-fil-A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/boycott-backfire-new-rankings-show-chick-fil-amanda-prestigiacomo">rose in popularity</a> during the intervening years, tripling its sales and becoming one of the top three restaurant chains in the country.&#8221;
&#8220;This capitulation will not stop the bleeding, because there was no bleeding,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;Now that might change. This move is much more likely to alienate Chick-fil-A’s supporters than to appease its critics. Surrendering to political correctness almost never pays off, and Chick-fil-A isn’t likely to be an exception.&#8221;
This article has been revised for clarity. 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/walsh-chick-fil-a-just-caved-to-the-rage-mob-theyre-about-to-learn-the-hard-way-that-surrendering-never-pays-off">WALSH: Chick-Fil-A Just Caved To The Rage Mob. They’re About To Learn The Hard Way That Surrendering Never Pays Off.</a>

Popularity Of Fast Food Chicken Helps Drive Nationwide Chicken Shortages And Price Increases

Chick-Fil-A Is Facing A Sauce Shortage

A Chick-fil-A in Philadelphia was hit last night by a mob of looters and rioters following the death of a black man who was shot and killed by law enforcement after he allegedly approached them with a weapon and did not obey their instructions to drop the weapon.
Video of the incident showed numerous smashed-out windows at the Chick-fil-A, cash registers broken into, and numerous other items in the restaurant destroyed.
Journalist Andy Ngo, an expert on tracking far-left extremism, wrote on Twitter, &#8220;I’m not sure what there is to loot at Chick-fil-a but rioters broke into one anyway at the BLM Philadelphia riot.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’m not sure what there is to loot at Chick-fil-a but rioters broke into one anyway at the BLM Philadelphia riot. Video by <a href="https://twitter.com/Julio_Rosas11?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Julio_Rosas11</a>: <a href="https://t.co/DMcCcfcI49">pic.twitter.com/DMcCcfcI49</a>
&mdash; Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1321294310894166017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The incident happened despite the fact that Chick-fil-A has taken a leftward turn over the past year, which includes abandoning organizations like the Salvation Army and embracing the woke social justice agenda of the political Left amid the race riots that broke out over the summer.
Christianity Today <a href="https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2019/november/chick-fil-stops-christian-donations-fca-salvation-army.html">reported</a> last November:
<blockquote>Chick-fil-A has announced plans to end charitable giving to Christian organizations—including the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)—amid concern over LGBT backlash as the popular Christian-owned business expands beyond the US.
The strategic shift has disappointed evangelicals who admired the chain’s stance and leaders at Salvation Army, who say its outreach supports members of the LGBT population facing homelessness and poverty.</blockquote>
“There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are,” Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos explained in an interview at the time. “There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message.”
The Salvation Army fired back in a statement:
<blockquote>
We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. In fact, we believe we are the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population. When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor, is at risk. We urge the public to seek the truth before rushing to ill-informed judgment and greatly appreciate those partners and donors who ensure that anyone who needs our help feels safe and comfortable to come through our doors.
</blockquote>
Earlier this year, amid the race riots that broke out following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy appeared to embrace the political Left&#8217;s stances on race issues.
The Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8443159/Chick-fil-CEO-urges-white-people-repent-racism-shining-black-strangers-shoes.html">reported</a>:
<blockquote>The CEO of Chick-fil-A has asked white Americans to repent for racism by shining the shoes of a black stranger after a dozen of his stores were damaged by protesters. &#8230;
Cathy was joined in the roundtable discussion by Pastor Louie Giglio, as well as the Christian rapper Lecrae Moore. &#8230;
&#8216;It has to hurt us, we as Caucasians, until we are willing to pick up the baton and fight for our black, African American brothers and sisters,&#8217; he added.
While discussing the topic of repentance, he got up and began to shine Moore&#8217;s shoes, suggesting it could be a path for white people to redeem themselves.
&#8216;I invite folks to put some words to action, and if we need to find somebody who needs to have their shoes shined, we need to just go right on over and shine their shoes,&#8217; the CEO said as he crouched over Moore&#8217;s sneakers with a brush.
</blockquote>
Cathy also issued a <a href="https://www.chick-fil-a.com/stories/news/chick-fil-a-responds-to-recent-events">statement</a> through Chick-fil-A at the time, saying that he could not &#8220;fully appreciate and understand the gross injustices that are all around us.&#8221;
&#8220;I also recognize that talking about the systemic inequality, bias, and injustices in our country will draw criticism,&#8221; Cathy continued. &#8220;But neither of these reasons makes it ok for me to remain silent about the issues that now so publicly confront our nation. The killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and many others is horrifying and merits our outrage. We should also address the disparate impact of COVID-19 on black and brown communities, as well as the disparity in educational opportunities and access to opportunity. Nobody talks about it enough, because this is someone else’s problem. I have observed injustice, inequities and blatant indifference to these real problems.&#8221;
&#8220;There are countless academics and analysts who have written about how our democratic capitalism benefits only a few hundred incredibly wealthy families, individuals and corporations, so that the American dream is now reserved almost exclusively for them and their descendants,&#8221; Cathy continued. &#8220;Because I am among that demographic, I am calling on them — us — to use our power and influence.&#8221;

Chick-Fil-A Went Woke Earlier This Year Amid Riots. That Didn’t Stop Looters From Hitting Their Store In Philadelphia.

Philadelphia

Riots

During a sit-down conversation with Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy, Christian rapper Lecrae, and Pastor Louie Giglio posted on Monday, Cathy urged white people to repent of their racism and justified rioters looting and burning down a Wendy&#8217;s restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia, following the death of Rayshard Brooks on Friday.
&#8220;We as caucasians, until we’re willing to just pick up the baton and fight for our black, African-American brothers and sisters, which they are as one human race, we’re shameful,&#8221; Cathy said, according to <a href="https://www.bucksexton.com/content/2020-06-18-chick-fil-a-ceo-white-christians-should-repent-of-racism/">BuckSexton.com</a>. &#8220;We’re just adding to it.&#8221;
&#8220;Our silence is so huge at this time,&#8221; he said, channeling the far-left refrain that &#8220;silence is violence.&#8221; &#8220;We cannot be silent. Somebody has to fight and God has so blessed our city, but it’s shameful how we let things get so out of whack.&#8221;
Then, before literally polishing the shoes of Lecrae, who is black, Cathy added that white Christians should have a &#8220;sense of shame&#8221; and an &#8220;apologetic heart.&#8221;
&#8220;Any expressions of a contrite heart, of a sense of humility, a sense of shame, a sense of embarrassment &#8230; an apologetic heart,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I think that&#8217;s what our world needs to hear today.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Chick-Fil-A CEO: 
White People Should Shine Blacks’ Shoes to Show ‘Sense of Shame,’ ‘Embarrassment’ for Racism <a href="https://t.co/A2Utbc0a2t">pic.twitter.com/A2Utbc0a2t</a>
&mdash; Gabe Hoffman (@GabeHoff) <a href="https://twitter.com/GabeHoff/status/1273713403274702855?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
During the same sit-down, the chicken chain CEO seemed to justify the burning down of a Wendy&#8217;s restaurant in Atlanta on Friday, citing black people&#8217;s &#8220;incredible amounts of frustration and pain&#8221; that &#8220;white people&#8221; are &#8220;simply just out-of-sight, out-of-mind oblivious to.&#8221;
&#8220;I think, before we try to jump into action, I would say that we need a period of contrition and a broken heart in the city of Atlanta,&#8221; said Cathy. &#8220;And a sense of real identity, not just criticizing people that are burning down that restaurant last night. We&#8217;ve got a heart for the Rayshard Brooks and others that you&#8217;ve (Lecrae) mentioned, we&#8217;ve gotta have a sense of empathy of what led to this. This is a tip of the iceberg of incredible amounts of frustration and pain that the whole spectrum of the African American community [is feeling] &#8230; that most of us white people are simply just out-of-sight, out-of-mind oblivious to. We cannot let this moment pass.&#8221;
Later in the sit-down, the CEO said that &#8220;a dozen Chick-fil-A restaurants have been vandalized in the last week,&#8221; while urging &#8220;white people&#8221; to feel the &#8220;pain&#8221; of the rioters.
In 2019, Chick-fil-A announced a stop to their donations to Christian-based charities deemed “anti-LGBT” by the Left, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-chick-fil-a-to-stop-donating-to-christian-charities-branded-anti-lgbt">The Daily Wire</a> reported:
<blockquote>In an interview with <a href="https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/retail/exclusive-amid-global-expansion-and-lgbt-pushback-chick-fil-a-changes-charitable-giving-structure-101818">Bisnow</a>, Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos announced that the famous fried chicken chain plans to make significant changes in which charities it donates to, in part because “as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.” Amid continued boycotts of the highly popular and successful chain over its donations to supposed “anti-LGBT” groups and causes, Tassopoulos revealed that the company’s foundation will no longer donate to some high-profile Christian organizations.</blockquote>
In the aftermath of the announcement, LGBT group GLAAD <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/glaads-response-to-chick-fil-a-cave-is-exactly-what-youd-expect">ripped</a> the company for allegedly still being anti-LGBT.
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="The Beloved Community - Dan Cathy, Lecrae, Louie Giglio" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xEuI-03Jcc4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
H/t <a href="https://www.bucksexton.com/content/2020-06-18-chick-fil-a-ceo-white-christians-should-repent-of-racism/">BuckSexton.com</a> 
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Dan Cathy

WATCH: Chick-Fil-A CEO Appears To Justify Rioters Burning Down Wendy’s, Urges White People To Repent Of Racism

Georgia

Police

Rayshard Brooks

On Tuesday, fast-food chain Chick-fil-A became the target campaign among left-leaning social media users who claimed the restaurant handed out &#8220;Blue Lives Matter&#8221; shirts as a way of responding to mass anti-racism protests taking place in most major cities.
There was just one problem: the photo they were using as evidence of Chick-fil-A&#8217;s &#8220;racism&#8221; is from 2015.
&#8220;An image being shared on Facebook of Chick-fil-A workers wearing shirts that appear to support police officers are being used by some to claim that the company is &#8216;racist.&#8217; According to the fast-food chain, however, the pictures are being taken out of context,&#8221; <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/chick-fil-a-back-the-blue-photo-out-of-context">Fox News reports</a>.
The photo shows a Chick-fil-A worker filling orders in a blue shirt with the words, &#8220;Back the Blue,&#8221; written across the back under the chain&#8217;s logo. &#8220;Several Facebook users have shared the photo and claimed that the slogan was worn to show support for police officers during the recent protests,&#8221; Fox News adds, noting that some leftists, concerned that Chick-fil-A was openly refusing to participate in the &#8220;Black Lives Matter&#8221; movement, were planning a boycott.
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-back-the-blue/fact-check-chick-fil-a-did-not-distribute-back-the-blue-shirts-in-response-to-recent-black-lives-matter-protests-idUSKBN23F1WL">Reuters</a>, hardly a right-leaning media outlet, dug deeper, however, and discovered that the photos are from 2015, from a single restaurant, and were worn to support a local football team, not a local police department.
&#8220;A representative from Jackson Spalding, Chick-fil-A’s public relations firm confirmed to Reuters that these t-shirts were made in 2015 by &#8216;one locally owned-and-operated Chick-fil-A restaurant; to support a local high school football team,&#8221; Reuters says.
“The photo is currently being taken out of context,” Chick-fil-A&#8217;s spokesperson told the outlet, “so we apologize for any confusion this has caused.”
Although Reuters couldn&#8217;t find much information on the shirts themselves, they did find several social media posts referencing the shirts, all from different years. In one case, a similar photo said to be taken in Texas, was used to claim that Chick-fil-A had handed out &#8220;Back the Blue&#8221; shirts to support law enforcement after several police officers were shot at a Black Lives Matter protest in Dallas that year. Snopes &#8212; again, hardly a right-leaning outlet &#8212; debunked that claim.
Chick-fil-A is, of course, a regular target for leftist ire. Its founders have given to conservative causes and, as Christians, oppose same-sex marriage and abortion. As a company, Chick-fil-A, though, appears to have stopped its political giving.
Chick-fil-A&#8217;s CEO, Dan Cathy, issued a statement last week expressing support for ongoing anti-racism protests, which arose following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. In it, he expressed both understanding and solidarity with marchers.
“What I have come to understand is that they are tired of the violence, abuse, and injustice,” Cathy said. “They are tired because no amount of kneeling or marching seems to truly address what has ailed our country for generations: A controverted view of race, which is sometimes overt and sometimes subtle but always destructive.”
“Despair and hopelessness have always been a part of the human experience,&#8221; Cathy continued, in a call to action. &#8220;In the book of Nehemiah, found in the Old Testament, we read about the conviction of the cupbearer of the king, who became aware of the plight of his people in Jerusalem. His conviction moved him to action to be a catalyst for the renaissance in his homeland.”
The Daily Wire, headed by bestselling author and popular podcast host Ben Shapiro, is a leading provider of conservative news, cutting through the mainstream media’s rhetoric to provide readers the most important, relevant, and engaging stories of the day. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/subscribe">member</a>.

Leftists Tried To Cancel Chick-Fil-A Over ‘Back The Blue’ Shirts. Restaurant Says Picture Is Five Years Old.

Racism

A new report details the massive amount of money the city of San Antonio has allegedly spent thus far in order to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant at an airport because six members of the city council believes the popular fast-food franchise is &#8220;anti-LGBTQ.&#8221;
Chick-fil-A, which recently became the nation&#8217;s third-largest fast-food franchise, has been under perpetual fire from the progressive left because of the traditional Christian views of its owners and its charitable arm&#8217;s donations to Christian organizations, including some that have expressed traditional views on marriage and sexuality. Though Chick-fil-A does not discriminate against LGBT customers and employs LGBT individuals, it has been branded as &#8220;anti-LGBTQ&#8221; by the left.
Among those who have condemned the franchise are six members of San Antonio&#8217;s city council, who voted last March to ban the franchise from opening a restaurant at the San Antonio International Airport, citing its supposed &#8220;legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.&#8221;
&#8220;With this decision, the City Council reaffirmed the work our city has done to become a champion of equality and inclusion,&#8221; the city council declared in a <a href="https://www.kens5.com/article/news/community/plan-to-bring-new-restaurants-to-sa-airport-amended-by-city-council-to-exclude-chick-fil-a/273-b8e90ec4-f077-48c3-a79d-7511dca48ba0">press release</a>, announcing its 6-4 vote. &#8220;San Antonio is a city full of compassion, and we do not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.&#8221;
The decision sparked two lawsuits and a federal investigation, and, according to calculations by CBS-affiliate <a href="https://www.kens5.com/article/money/citys-chick-fil-a-fight-has-cost-more-than-300k-so-far/273-2bae1e94-62fe-4bc8-ba95-3dab02558696">KENS5</a>, has thus far cost more than $300,000 in legal fees. &#8220;According to the latest numbers, to day, the city has paid at least $315,000, with other invoices pending,&#8221; the outlet reports.
Days after the council&#8217;s decision in March to exclude the franchise, the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an investigation, while multiple Texas political figures publicly condemned the city council&#8217;s discriminatory move, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
The details of this story are even worse. San Antonio City Council voted to ban ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/ChickfilA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChickfilA</a>⁩ from the airport bc the company gave to&#8230;the Fellowship of Christian Athletes &amp; the Salvation Army?!? That’s ridiculous. And not Texas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeftistIntolerance?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeftistIntolerance</a> <a href="https://t.co/ApTnlpS2E0">https://t.co/ApTnlpS2E0</a>
&mdash; Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1109532206542848000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Among the reasons cited for labeling the company &#8220;anti-LGBTQ&#8221; was its donations to Christian charities, particularly the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Paul Anderson Youth Home, which were listed a day earlier in a report by left-wing site <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/chick-fil-a-anti-lgbtq-donations-tax-filings-62ca15281f17/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Think Progress</a> on Chick-fil-A&#8217;s <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/402397177/Chick-Fil-A-Foundation-2017" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2017 tax filings</a>.
In a decision met with backlash from the company&#8217;s large number of faith-based fans, Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/report-chick-fil-a-to-stop-donating-to-christian-charities-branded-anti-lgbt">announced</a> in November that the foundation was no longer going to donate to the Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes or the Paul Anderson Youth Home.
“There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are,” Tassopoulos said. “There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message.”
As noted by <a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/san-antonio-chick-fil-a-open-legal-fees">Fox Business</a>, Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has since admitted that the chain &#8220;inadvertently discredited&#8221; groups with the decision.
&#8220;We understand how some thought we were abandoning our longstanding support of faith-based organization,&#8221; Cathy wrote in a Dec. 5 <a href="https://www.afa.net/media/449831/letter-from-chick-fil-a.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">letter</a> to American Family Association President Tim Wildmon. &#8220;We inadvertently discredited several outstanding organizations that have effectively served communities for years.&#8221;
&#8220;The intent of our corporate giving has always been to have impact &#8212; not to make a statement or support a political or social agenda,&#8221; wrote Cathy. &#8220;Chick-fil-A will give to faith-based and other organizations that we believe to be highly effective in a particular area.&#8221;
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/chick-fil-a-ceo-says-company-will-still-glorify-god-after-throwing-salvation-army-under-the-bus">Chick-Fil-A CEO Says Company Will Still ‘Glorify God’ After Throwing Salvation Army Under The Bus</a>

Menu