Franklin Graham calls New York Mayor Bill de Blasio a bully for Chick-fil-A boycott campaign
Evangelist Franklin Graham refers to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's call for boycott on the popular fast food chain Chick-fil-A as nothing but a form of "bullying, intolerance, and discrimination."
The son of preacher Billy Graham and president of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan's Purse charity has shared his sentiments on his Facebook page, referring to the calls for boycott made by the NYC mayor after Chick-fil-A announced a soon-to-open branch in Queens, New York.
Graham wrote on his Facebook post, "Can you imagine a city where a popular, successful business is singled out and attacked by the mayor who calls for a boycott — all because the business owners let it be known that they operate by Christian principles and believe in God's definition of marriage?"
He adds, "That's exactly what just happened to one of America's most successful businesses. Chick-fil-A has almost 2000 restaurants and sales of more than $6 billion annually. You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that doesn't like their chicken sandwiches — and their high quality service."
Graham says he's known the family owners of Chick-fil-A for many years and have great respect for them. He concluded by hoping that the chicken restaurant earns record sales in its branches in New York and even asked those who agreed with him to comment on his post their appreciation for the family.
The NYC mayor has previously made a public statement against the fast food chain during an unrelated press conference. He recalled Chick-fil-A's President Dan Cathy's stand on traditional marriage during an interview in 2012 and criticized that it was plain wrong so he said he's not going to patronize the company and urged New Yorkers to do the same.
Queens Councilman Danny Dromm, founder of Queens Lesbian and Gay Pride Committee and who organized the first Queens Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Parade and Festival also expressed distaste on the fast food chain's anti-LGBT values and refers to it as "purveyor of hate."
