Windsor city councillors may not be able to do much to keep Chick-fil-A out of Windsor, but one of the organizers of recent protests vows to make the fast-food giant feel unwelcome.
Members of Windsor's LGBTQ+ community and Windsor Animal Save held a protest outside Windsor City Hall Monday night just as councillors entered the building for their council meeting.
"If this does go ahead -- we will absolutely be protesting the grand opening. We will also be protesting periodically throughout Chick-Fil-A being open in Windsor," said protestor Jolene Bulmer. "We will be at job fairs. We are going to be writing letters. We're going to be doing petitions within our community."
She called the corporation "discriminating" and "unethical" and said her campaign is just ramping up.
CEO Dan Cathy has said he opposes same-sex marriage, and the company has donated millions of dollars to two Christian organizations that also come out against unions between same-sex partners. Those donations to the Salvation Army and the Christian Fellowship of Athletes were halted in November.
"He takes a very right-winged anti-LGBTQ stance marriage," said Bulmer. "I don't believe that he believes in equal rights when it comes to our gay community."
Some councillors have said they sympathize with the protesters' concerns but can not discriminate against a business based on the beliefs of its CEO. In the end, councillors approved a site plan.
The company wants to open a restaurant on Howard Avenue near Devonshire Mall.
