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Indiana Pizzeria That Won’t Cater To Same-Sex Wedding Closes Following Online Threat To Burn The Place

Vittorio Hernandez   |

Apr 03, 2015 12:04 AM EDT

So far, there was no trouble on Wednesday night at Memories Pizza, the Indiana pizzeria in Walkerton that received threats after its owner said the family would turn down catering service request if a gay couple wants to get their service for a gay wedding reception. The owner had insisted that under the state’s new religious objection law, they have the right to deny catering to a same-sex wedding. Because of the threat, Memories Pizza shuttered and would not likely reopen soon, reports Miami Herald. Charles Kulp, assistant chief of the Walkerton Police, said if there would be more threat, the cops would increase their patrols. Besides the threat, netizens also aired their disagreement with the unknown pizzeria which shot to national notoriety when its owner, Crystal O’Connor, told WBND, a CNN affiliate, “If a gay couple was to come and they wanted us to bring pizzas to their wedding, we’d have to say no.” The basis of her statement is Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. In a tweet, Risky Liberal said, “My boycotting your business because I don’t like your religious bigotry is not a violation of your freedom to practice your religion.” Jessica Dooley of Goshen suggested going to Walkerton to burn Memories Pizza on Wednesday, which made police patrol the controversial, but closed, pizzeria. Dooley later deleted her Twitter account, although Charles Kulp, the assistant police chief, recommended filing of harassment, intimidation and threats charges against Dooley. However, Memories has its cyber supporters too. Savannah tweeted that what happened at Memories is not the forces of free market operating but a lynch mob cyberbullying its owners. A GoFundMe page was also set up to support Memories, and it had raised over $400,000 as of Thursday evening. Lawrence Bill Jones II, who started the page, said the aim was to provide financial relief for the loss suffered by the owners who stood up for their faith. Kevin O’Connor, one of the owners, told WBND, “That’s a lifestyle that you choose. I choose to be heterosexual. They choose to be homosexual. You can’t beat me over the head with something they choose to be.”