HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Hundreds of people slammed Huntsville-area Chick-fil-As at lunch today during a national demonstration of support of the chain called after its president expressed public opposition to gay marriage. Some had called for boycotts of the fast-food restaurant since Dan Cathy's remarks on July 16.



Some stores are already reporting record sales along with the huge crowds. More than 100 people formed long lines at the fast-food store in Parkway Place Mall, and Madison police issued an advisory at 12:12 p.m. telling people to stay away from the area of the restaurant at 7885 U.S. 72.

Harold Chancellor of Madison said he waited 45 minutes in a traffic jam on U.S. 72 only to get waved on by police when he got to the entrance to the Madison restaurant because the parking lot was already overflowing. People were walking to the restaurant from all directions, he said.



"We go there all the time, but I went (today), in support," Chancellor said. "Praise the Lord."

Cathy made his statement in the "Baptist Press," saying "I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,'" Cathy said. "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about."

Cathy went on, "We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."

Some at Parkway Place said they came to support Cathy and his statement, while others had no idea the protest was going on until they arrived. "I was just here to get a sandwich," JoAnne Johnson of Huntsville said while standing in line at Parkway Place. Asked if she supported the demonstration, Johnson said "I am now. I do support him."