By Mary Whitfill, editor-in-chief

On Friday, thousands of Market Basket employees continued the strange developments in the chain’s legal disputes, rallying around Arthur T. Demoulas, the recently fired CEO, in Tewksbury. Employees, customers, community members and rally organizers stood together to collectively demand the rehiring of the popular CEO.

In attempts to have Demoulas reinstated, nearly 10,000 people gathered in the parking lot of the Market Basket in Stadium Plaza, the biggest rally since the protests began in June. Since Demoulas was fired last month, customers have boycotted, managers have refused deliveries, employees have gone on strike and stores are no longer well socked enough to maintain their steady stream of customers.

The center of the Market Basket dispute can be boiled down to a family feud between Arthur T. and his cousin Arthur S. Demoulas. According to The Press Herald, the feud began in the ‘70s but the most recent battle began when Arthur S. gained control of the company’s board of directors.

Key differences in the two family members come management of money. Arthur T. is credited by employees for treating them well and keeping prices low in stores. Arthur S. wishes to take the company in a direction that would mean a greater return for shareholders.

Arthur S. has yet to speak publically and on Wednesday, Arthur T. offered to buy the company for an undisclosed amount. Elected officials, beginning with State Sen. Berry Finegold, have begun calling for boycotts of the chain as well.

Last weekend, a large number of managers and other mid-level management employees were fired.