HispanicBusiness

Throngs of people ate at Chick-fil-A on Wednesday to show support for the chicken fast-food restaurant in the wake of its CEO's comments against same-sex marriage.

In Oxnard, a long line in the afternoon turned into a mob scene during the dinner rush as Chick-fil-A patrons encircled the building on Rose Avenue on Wednesday. The parking lot overflowed with cars and the drive-thru line was crowded, as well. People of all ages came to show their support, some carrying American flags. One man wore a shirt that read "proud heterosexual."

"We were on our way up to Santa Barbara and we intentionally wanted to go to Chick-fil-A today to support the cause," said Susan Detwiler, of San Diego. "The sanctions the mayors have threatened against Chick-fil-A are way over the line in terms of our basic freedom of speech and freedom of religion."

Mayors in Boston, Chicago and San Francisco warned Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy not to pursue new franchises in their cities after Cathy told the Baptist Press that the Atlanta-based company was "guilty as charged" for supporting "the biblical definition of a family."

In Oxnard, a relatively small group of gay rights supporters showed up in the evening carrying signs that read "serve chicken not hate" and asked passing cars to "honk for equality." Many of the cars responded by honking.

Ventura resident Whitney Fournier said the issue goes beyond free speech.

"It's a civil-rights issue," she said. "Fifty years ago, you weren't allowed to get married if somebody was a different color or different race from you. Why does history have to repeat itself? Now it's same-sex marriage."

Her grandmother, Doris Fournier, also came to hold a sign in support of same-sex marriage. She indicated it's hard to see the CEO of Chick-fil-A as a victim of stymied speech.

"A big man with a big company behind him expressed an opinion," she said. "He came out as the president of this huge company. It was money behind him. All we're asking for is equality."

Gay-rights groups and others have called for boycotts.

The reaction was not acceptable to many of the people who showed up to support Chick-fil-A on Wednesday, including David Atkin, of Ventura.

"I don't feel it's right for them to force their opinion onto (Chick-fil-A)," he said. "I mean, I wouldn't go boycott a business because they're gay. I mean, they have their own rights."

Alison Eilerman, of Thousand Oaks, also was standing in line Wednesday.

"I think marriage is between a man and a woman, but regardless of how I feel, I just think everyone should have the ability to speak freely in our country," Eilerman said. "That's what our country stands for."

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Baptist minister, declared Wednesday as "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

A spokeswoman for the Rev. Billy Graham said the 93-year-old evangelist ate a Chick-fil-A lunch, including a chicken sandwich and waffle fries, at his North Carolina home.

Opponents of Cathy's stance have planned "Kiss Mor Chiks" for Friday, asking people of the same sex to show up at Chick-fil-A locations and kiss each other.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.