Indiana Pizzeria Forced to Close Doors for Supporting Religious Freedom Bill Receives $840K in Donations

An Indiana pizzeria in the crosshairs of a debate over a religious freedom bill has agreed to accept $840,000 worth of donations raised online after it was forced to temporarily shutter its doors amid death threats.

Memories Pizzeria in Walkerton, Indiana was forced to temporarily shutter its doors after its owners received criticism for voicing their support for Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The legislation, originally supported by Indiana Governor Mike Pence, prevents local government from burdening one's religious beliefs unless it has a compelling reason to do so.

Those who oppose the legislation argue that it would give business owners the right to discriminate against gay customers.

During a recent local news interview, Crystal O'Connor, owner of Memories Pizzeria, told ABC57 that "if a gay couple came in and wanted us to provide pizzas for their wedding, we would have to say no," adding that she and her family run a "Christian establishment."

O'Connor then told TheBlaze days later that she and her family had temporarily closed the doors to their business and gone into "hiding" after receiving death threats online, as well as threats to burn their business to the ground.

A GoFundMe page named "SupportMemoriesPizza" had been set up to raise donations for the small business. As of this past weekend, the donation page had raised over $840,000 in donations for the O'Connor family.

Crystal O'Connor told Fox News over the weekend that she is grateful for God's blessing and the donated money.

"God has blessed us for standing up for what we believe, and not denying him," Crystal told Fox Business' Neil Cavuto.