A Cracker Barrel in Cleveland, Tennessee, turned away Knox County Sheriff's Office Detective Grayson Fritts and his church group, citing the restaurant chain's zero-tolerance policy for "discriminatory treatment or harassment of any sort."
A Cracker Barrel in Cleveland, Tennessee, turned away Knox County Sheriff's Office Detective Grayson Fritts and his church group, citing the restaurant chain's zero-tolerance policy for "discriminatory treatment or harassment of any sort."
Fritts and his tiny independent Baptist church in Knoxville had planned a meeting at the Cracker Barrel on June 29.
Cracker Barrel said it is not affiliated in any way with Fritts his church "and we disagree strongly with their statements of hate and divisiveness," the Lebanon, Tennessee-based, national restaurant chain said in a statement.
The chain said it told the church its event will not be allowed. "We serve everyone who walks through our doors with genuine hospitality, not hate, and require all guests to do the same," the restaurant said.
In early June, Fritts thrust himself and his church into the spotlight with a series of recorded sermons in which he advocated for government authorities — including Knox County Sheriff's Office where he works — to execute LGBTQ people.
Knox County Sheriff Tom Spangler said Fritts would not be fired for his comments citing a fear of lawsuits. Fritts remains on paid sick leave with the county sheriff's office until he collects his buyout in July.
Cracker Barrel said its corporate policy "strictly prohibits" any type of protest or public demonstration on their property or in their stores.
"At Cracker Barrel, we work hard to foster a culture that is welcoming and inclusive — we have a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory treatment or harassment of any sort," the release said. "We take pride in serving as a home away from home for all guests and in showing our communities and our country that the hospitality we practice is open to everyone."
Protesters brought event to restaurant chain's attention
Blake Kitterman, of Chattanooga, tweeted at Cracker Barrel Tuesday to bring the event to the chain's attention Tuesday after friends in Cleveland alerted him to it.
"Care to stop this?" he wrote. "I’m gay and you have the power to ensure me and my boyfriend are safe from these extremists."
David Tierney, of Knoxville, who identifies as gay and genderqueer, said they spoke to the restaurant and organized a phone campaign, while Trey Grant, of Knoxville, organized a demonstration outside of Cracker Barrel for the event.
"It is a small victory for our community and it took a lot of work for us to even get this accomplished," Tierney said.
The Tennessee Democratic Party also sent the restaurant a letter, asking Cracker Barrel to turn Fritts away.
In the letter, Mary Mancini, party chair, urged Cracker Barrel Chief Executive Sandra Cochrane to uphold the inclusivity and diversity pledges listed on the restaurant's website.
"This is all started as an online campaign and action, organized by direct message (online), then grew into a real action, and then got picked up by the states Democratic Party." Tierney said. "It really just spread like wildfire over the course of 5 days."
