The crimes of a Charlotte brewery’s former co-owner is causing many bars and distributors in North Carolina to throw out its beer — but a popular Chapel Hill bar is looking to use the beer for a good cause.
Goodfellows on Franklin Street shared a message to its followers on social media Saturday reacting to the news of former Sycamore Brewing co-owner Justin Brigham being charged with statutory rape of a child and first-degree burglary in Stanly County. The arrest and revelation led many business partners of Sycamore, ranging from grocery stores like Harris Teeter and Lowe’s Foods to bars across the state, to share they would be fully cutting ties and dumping their supply of beer.
After confirming it carried Sycamore beers and sharing support by those affected by Brigham’s “unconscionable” actions, Goodfellows said it wanted to do something other than dumping the beer. In an effort to both acknowledge and support victims of sexual violence while recognizing the brewery staff whose work is unrelated to Brigham’s actions, the bar said it would continue selling the Sycamore Brewery stock on hand and donating all profits from the sales to the Orange County Rape Crisis Center. The nonprofit helps provide services, like crisis hotlines and therapy services to survivors and victims of sexual violence.
“We will pause any future Sycamore orders to ensure that the former co-owner is fully divested from the business,” Goodfellows wrote in its post. “Once we are assured that he is fully divested, we will revisit future business with Sycamore, provided we have the support of our patrons. Again, we want to be as supportive of the hard-working folks at Sycamore as possible, while also respecting the gravity of this situation. We feel this is the fairest way forward.”
Executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center Rachel Valentine told Chapelboro she wants the main takeaway from the discourse around Brigham and Sycamore Brewing to center the victimized child, and to recognize that supporting their recovery and safety is a collective responsibility. One way to do that, for people who are not connected to the victim, is to be vocal about believing survivors and being consistent in demanding accountability for those who harm them.
Valentine added that she believes Goodfellows’ gesture is “well reasoned” and is a step toward that vocal support because it can help provide material change.
“Rape crisis centers are a critical support system for survivors, and our very existence is under threat in the current political economy,” she said. “As far as I understand it, the bar has already paid for the product — they can’t trade it back in to punish the brewery. Pouring the product down the drain or kicking it into the dumpster is a legitimate form of protest — but investing the profit into survivor care is just as legitimate.”
After issuing an initial statement in the immediate wake of Brigham’s arrest and charges, Sycamore Brewing posted a more detailed statement on Dec. 13 confirming its co-owner Sarah Taylor — who is Brigham’s wife — was assuming full control of the business and Brigham would not be involved. It also confirmed the brewery would not be using its business to aid Brigham’s legal defense, calling his actions “despicable” and saying Sycamore hopes the justice system holds Brigham accountable. Sycamore also said its staff was “working tirelessly admist [sic] the chaos and uncertainty” and it shared the frustration and sorrow of any patrons who felt their trust in the brewery was violated.
If you or someone you know are seeking free and confidential sexual abuse recovery resources, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center offers 24-hour phone and text lines (919-967-7273) and a 24-hour online chat. The free, national sexual abuse hotline offered by RAINN is 800-566-4673 and you can text “HOPE” to 64673. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911.
Featured photo by Jon Gregory/Chapel Hill Media Group.
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