'Tastes Like Hate': Torrance Chick-Fil-A Vandalized Ahead Of 'Same Sex Kiss Day'
TORRANCE (CBS) — The store manager of a Chick-fil-A in Torrance says the restaurant was targeted by vandals overnight.
KNX 1070's John Brooks reports a message that read "Tastes Like Hate" with a painting of a cow was discovered early Friday morning at the store located at 18200 Hawthorne Boulevard.
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Workers quickly painted over the graffiti as Torrance police officers were called out to the scene sometime around 6:40 a.m., according to police.
Franchise owner Cole Donahoo said they never talk about politics, marriage or religion at the restaurant — they just serve food to anyone who comes in.
"We just don't even discuss that here at the workplace," said Donahoo. "Our goal is to serve great food with courteous service in a clean, hospitable environment."
Friday also marks National Same Sex Kiss Day, which has been organized by gay and lesbian supporters to show "Chick-fil-A Our Thanks For Their Support Of Love, Equality, And The Real Definition Of Marriage," according to the event's Facebook page.
Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy has said he believes in the Biblical interpretation of marriage being between a man and a woman. The chain has also reportedly donated millions to anti-gay marriage groups in recent years, according to Equality Matters.
During the "kiss-in" planned for 5 p.m. Friday, gay and straight couples are encouraged to go to any Chick-fil-A location and take a picture kissing.
On Wednesday, thousands ate at Chick-fil-A locations around the country after Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee called for a national "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" to show support for Cathy.
However, Huckabee told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO that freedom of speech — not same-sex marriage — is at the core of this controversy.
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"This really isn't about the chicken; it's not even about the product. It's just about whether the person who is the executive of a company can still speak his mind," said Huckabee. "We expect that every day from the CEOs of Apple and Starbucks and Ben & Jerry's, and it ought to be the same set of rules applied to a person who is a conservative, and in this case, an evangelical Christian."
The Torrance Police Department is investigating the vandalism.
