One local business industry that has consistently voiced disagreement to political discussions it opposed in recent years is the craft brewing market.
That theme remained on Friday when Durham-based Fullsteam brewery tweeted, “We at @fullsteam publicly denounce President Trump.”
The tweet started with the famous quote adorning the Statue of Liberty:
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
It comes after Trump has sparked controversy from reportedly asking during a closed-door immigration policy discussion on Thursday, “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?”
Multiple outlets have reported the quote in the context of immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.
The vulgar statement came after the Trump administration announced earlier in the week it would be ending Temporary Protected Status for approximately 200,000 El Salvadorians in the United States. Friday is also the eighth anniversary of the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti.
Fullsteam has been in the public spotlight in recent years. The Durham brewery announced in 2016 that it would not work or be associated with the state government of North Carolina in the wake of the passage of House Bill 2, commonly known as the “Bathroom Bill.”
Fullsteam also launched a campaign earlier this year to donate money to advocacy non-profit Common Cause NC to fight against gerrymandering in the Tar Heel State. The money was raised through the sale of a “Purple State” fruited saison beer, a nod to the “purple” nature of politics in North Carolina.
Another Durham brewery, Ponysaurus, has also entered into the public arena on political topics – most noticeably HB2. The brewery launched a “Don’t Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule Saison” in 2016 with a portion of the sales going to several LGBT advocacy organizations.
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