Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested During Gaza Protest at U.S. Senate

 

Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested During Gaza Protest at U.S. Senate

During a protest in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Ben Cohen, co-founder of the well-known ice cream company Ben & Jerry's, was taken into jail. The protest brought awareness to the economic situation in Gaza and called a halt to US military aid to Israel. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, spoke at a committee in the Senate when the protest broke up.

Cohen was charged with a criminal offense for "crowding, impeding, or incommoding"—a charge frequently brought up in peaceful protest cases in Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Capitol Police. Six other demonstrators were held with him and are being charged with serious offenses, such as resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

A social media video shows Cohen being escorted in handcuffs out of the premises. Cohen said, "Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the U.S.," in response to a question about why he was being arrested.

Activism Deeply Rooted in Ben & Jerry's History

Since its founding in 1978, Ben & Jerry's has upheld a long history of supporting progressive issues, including climate justice to LGBTQ+ rights. In order to maintain its political objective, an independent board was formed even though the company was purchased by the global consumer goods company Unilever in 2000.

But in recent years, there has been an increase in hostilities between Unilever and Ben & Jerry's. The dispute started in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's declared it would no longer sell its goods in Israeli-occupied West Bank areas. This decision sparked a court battle and international outcry.

Unilever explained their stance in response to Cohen's detention, telling the BBC: "Ben Cohen takes positions as an activist citizen on issues he finds morally important."

Ongoing Legal Disputes and Political Advocacy

Ben & Jerry's sued Unilever earlier this year, claiming that internal disputes about the company's political campaigns—specifically, its stance on Gaza—led to the dismissal of CEO David Sheffield. "The confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been made public," Unilever retorted, expressing disappointment.

With the ongoing legal battle between the two businesses, Ben & Jerry's continues to speak out on global concerns. The company's most recent request for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza further shows its commitment to human rights around the world.