McHenry County’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant is scheduled to open Thursday on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

We’re not sure whether the grand opening will be greeted by protesters upset with Chick-fil-A founder Dan Cathy’s views on gay marriage. If protesters are there, that’s fine. As long as they conduct their protest peacefully and don’t interrupt the business or its customers, they’re merely practicing their First Amendment rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.

That’s all Cathy was doing when he stirred controversy recently by saying in an interview that he opposes same-sex marriage. Agree with Cathy or not, he has a right to his opinion and a right to express it.