Montauk Brewing Faces Firestorm Over Black Lives Matter Support

MONTAUK, NY — A chalkboard sign outside Montauk Brewing Company in support of "Black Lives Matter" written months ago has sparked a firestorm of controversy on social media this week — with thousands joining a Facebook page in protest and many vowing never to drink the beer again.

The sign, which said, "The founders and team at Montauk Brewing Company support the movement with all our heart. Black Lives Matter," was written in chalk by Montauk Brewing Company founder Vaughan Cutillo. "We have donated to and will continue to donate to support organizations that support the cause. Come as you are."

The words have incited fury among some who charge that the brewery does not support police. A Facebook page created Wednesday, Defund Montauk Brewing Company has more than 13,000 members, many of whom are posting the words "Back the Blue". "This group is to bring awareness," the page said. Montauk Brewing Company, the page said, made a "poor decision by supporting an anti-American terrorist group."

Members of the group are posting in support of businesses pulling the brew from their taps.

"There will be no Montauk Brewery Company items sold here! Back the Blue!" Timothy Nickels wrote.

Cutillo, who co-founded the business with brewmaster Eric Moss, spoke with Patch about the uproar.

"To be quite honest, in the last two days, this came out of nowhere," he said. "I don't know how or why this came about. As a company, our goals has always been to give people good vibes, no matter who they are. 'Come as you are,' has always been our message of inclusivity."

Montauk Brewing Company launched eight years ago and employs a staff of 10, Cutillo said; the business is community-minded and supports police, first responders, and all people from all walks of life, he said. The backlash his company is facing, he said, "is confusing."

Cutillo said the sign in question was handwritten by him, on June 3, more than two months ago, as a message of support for those experiencing racism and attacks, he said.

"We are in support of racial equality and we unapologetically stand against racism and violence," Cutillo said. "At the same time, we will always support our police, our fire departments, our first responders."

Montauk Brewing Company, he said, made donations to not-for-profit organizations, the NAACP and the Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective, or BEAM. "We weren't donating to violence," Cutillo said. "That's not who we are."

That said, Cutillo said: "We would never condone brutality toward police. We respect police." Locally, the business has supported the Navy SEALS, local police precincts, and the Montauk Medical Center, he said.

When the coronavirus crisis first hit, Cutillo and his staff hand-delivered care packages with T-shirts and other merchandise to local fire departments and police stations. "It's not nearly enough but it's a start," a post, showing a photo of the care packages, said. "Our team is spending time thinking of creative ways to give back and spread even more positive vibes."

Cutillo said the pandemic hit his business hard, as well. "We're a tiny company with 10 employees selling a lot of beer to loyal fans. We're a small, community, homegrown company."

Born and raised in the area, Moss' father is a retired police officer, Cutillo said. "We stand by our values but we also stand by our local police," Cutillo said. "There's a lot of anger and we want to mend relations with the men and women in the police department. But we are against racism. It's as simple as that."

Of the Facebook page, Cutillo said he does not know the people who created it. "I don't know what to say besides we do respect police. We do not endorse or condone brutality between anyone. And at the same time, we needed to take a stand against racism. That's what we stand for."

A new Instagram post by the Montauk Brewing Company Friday said: "We have, and will, always support our local police, first responders, doctors, nurses, and fire departments. We also support equal rights for all. At the end of the day, we support good people doing good things."

"Little too late if you ask me," wrote Nan Cee on Facebook.

Others support Montauk Brewing Company. "There is a very wrong misconception with the Blue Lives Matter take. They would do so much more to support our police departments if they supported and encouraged the 'good apples' to stand up and do what’s right — that is, call out the dirty problems and violent applications of unnecessary force by those 'bad apples' in the system.

That's how we end this relentless and illegal treatment of our Black, Indigenous, and people of color while also giving training and support to those hired by the taxpayer to 'protect and serve' each one of us equally," Kate Mueth said.

Some turned to social media to denounce the business and vow that they'd support only companies that were in support of law enforcement.

"Let's use this group to help businesses on Long Island flourish that are pro Trump and law enforcement during these tough times," Dee So-Moe wrote on Facebook. "Please list names of restaurants and other establishments from all over the island that we can support and give our business to."

Speaking on the firestorm, Cutillo said: "These have been tough times. We're a small, local team trying to survive the pandemic. And now we have people coming to our community to stir up trouble. It's hurtful, but we will get through it. Our message has always been, 'Come as you are.' We welcome anybody. That's been our company motto, as we give back and work with the community."