Controversy Surrounds Proposed Military-Themed Brewery in Norfolk

Former U.S. Navy SEAL's Alleged Racist and Homophobic Remarks Fuel Opposition

Armed Forces Brewing Company, a military-themed brewery, is facing opposition over plans to open in Norfolk, Virginia, due to alleged racist and homophobic remarks by Robert J. O'Neill, a former U.S. Navy SEAL with a small ownership stake in the company.
O'Neill's social media complaint about a Navy sailor who performs as a drag queen and a police report alleging he used a racial slur have fueled efforts to stop the brewery from opening.
Norfolk's planning commission has recommended the City Council deny permits for the planned taproom and distribution center, after nearly 800 public comments were filed, many opposing the venture.
The brewery also failed to get the support of the local neighborhood association, which serves the largely Black community of Park Place.
The City Council could vote as soon as Tuesday on the brewery's conditional use permits, and the company has warned it will sue if the application is rejected.