The Oracle

Chick-fil-A to Leave the U.K. After Protests

"A Georgia-born fast-food chicken-sandwich chain opened its first U.K. location in Reading’s Oracle Mall but was met with immediate protests from LGBTQ advocates over the company’s history of funding anti-LGBTQ organizations, including reported donations totaling $1.8 million as recently as 2017. Company representatives say the outlet will close by next spring and that it was always intended as a six-month pilot; Oracle Mall confirmed the trial will not be extended, saying that is “the right thing to do.” Reading Pride condemned the chain’s ethos as incompatible with local values, with protesters asserting the restaurant would not be welcome anywhere in the U.K." - Nikita Richardson