Boston

‘I Was Outraged': Man Hangs Protest Sign Near Sam Adams Brewery

A sign protesting Sam Adams because of its founder's statements in favor of Donald Trump is brewing controversy in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood.

The sign reads, "Shame Sam Adams [heart] Trump Shame."

Jeremy Phillips and his son put it up in their backyard that faces the brewery after learning that Sam Adams founder Jim Koch praised the president on Aug. 7, during a business leaders dinner at Trump's New Jersey golf course.

"I was outraged, I was outraged," Jeremy Phillips said. "It felt like just a betrayal of what I had understood him to be about."

Sam Adams has benefited from recent tax cuts, its effective tax rate falling from 38 percent to 28 percent.

"The tax reform was a very big deal for all of us, because 85 percent of the beer made in the United States is owned by foreign companies. We were paying 38 percent taxes and competing against people who were paying 20," Koch said during the dinner. "And now we have a level playing field, and we're going to kick their ass."

"I'm very hopeful he’ll do a little bit of soul searching and realize… that his priorities are a little bit off," said Phillips.

Phillips says he is especially disappointed because in Jamaica Plain, Sam Adams is seen as a good neighbor that supports diversity.

"Clearly, his extra profits are more important to him, or at least that's what he's conveying," said Phillips.

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone said over the weekend that he was boycotting Sam Adams after the meeting.

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