Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, was arrested recently for protesting the Gaza blockade. This is exactly what happened during a recent U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing. The Helsinki protest, together with seven other protests, illustrated Cohen’s continuing role as a critic of Israeli government policies. He’s been charged with “crowding and obstructing,” a common charge brought against protesters in Washington, D.C. This misdemeanor charge carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a $500 fine, or both.
Cohen, along with friend Jerry Greenfield, founded Ben & Jerry’s in Burlington, Vermont. Together, their passion and love for ice cream has made their small business into one of the biggest independent ice cream companies in the United States. This duo has raised eyebrows nationally with their brash approach to social issues. They should publicly support an end to sales in the occupied Palestinian territories. In an opinion piece for the New York Times in 2021, they laid out their position in no uncertain terms. They assured everyone, everything they did was consistent with their identities as proud Jews and supporters of Israel.
In the midst of the protest, Cohen articulated why he believes Congress has failed to act on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “Congress is hurting poor children in Gaza every time we buy a bomb.” He noted that they pay for this by kicking children off Medicaid here in the US. This statement highlights his view that U.S. foreign policy and domestic policy are intertwined.
Cohen’s had an impressive, long track record of pushing progressive causes. He has supported Bernie Sanders, independent Vermont U.S. senator and Democratic presidential candidate. His recent actions show strong continued efforts on behalf of these causes, most notably in addressing humanitarian concerns in areas of conflict.
Cohen and Greenfield have received intense criticism for their forthright positions in the ongoing fighting. Finally, they strongly assert that the court’s position on the Gaza blockade is not anti-Semitic. They contend that calling for humanitarian aid should not be twisted into proof of an opposition to Israel’s right to exist.