Ben Cohen, co-founder of the renowned ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s and a vocal advocate for progressive causes, was arrested on Capitol Hill this Wednesday during a Senate hearing after vocally opposing the United States’ continued military support to Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The protest erupted about 15 minutes into a congressional hearing where Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was testifying on proposed structural changes to federal health agencies and the agency’s budget. Cohen, 74, stood from the public seating area and began shouting at lawmakers: “Congress pays for bombs.” Capitol Police quickly intervened, handcuffing Cohen and escorting him out of the hearing room. Six other activists were also detained during the demonstration.
“You’re killing poor kids in Gaza and paying for it by cutting Medicaid for kids here,” Cohen shouted before being removed. As he was led away by officers, he added, “Let food into Gaza.” The incident has sparked widespread attention, with videos of Cohen being taken out of the chamber, hands behind his back, circulating widely on social media.
What Charges Cohen is Facing After Protest?
Cohen was formally charged under a District of Columbia law that prohibits “crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” a regulation frequently applied in cases of peaceful civil disobedience. If convicted, Cohen could face up to 90 days in jail, a fine of $500, or both, according to Capitol Police.
Following his release, Cohen spoke to AFP, expressing frustration over what he sees as the U.S. government’s misplaced priorities. “It got to a point where we had to do something,” he said. Describing the situation as “scandalising,” he condemned the approval of “$20 billion worth of bombs” for Israel, arguing that such military expenditures come at the cost of domestic welfare programs like Medicaid.
Cohen further stressed the moral dimensions of the issue: “Condoning and being complicit in the slaughter of tens of thousands of people strikes at the core of us as far as human beings and what our country stands for.” He added, “If you spent half of that money making lives better around the world, I think there’d be a whole lot less friction.”
Cohen Protested Amid Tight Security
Referencing a parenting analogy, he remarked, “You go to a three-year-old who goes around hitting people and you say ‘Use your words.’ There’s issues between countries but you can work them out without killing.”
The protest came amid heightened scrutiny of U.S. foreign policy and a growing division in public opinion. “The majority of Americans hate what’s going on, what our country is doing with our money and in our name,” said Cohen, citing widespread public discontent with the U.S. government’s role in the Israel-Gaza conflict.
This isn’t the first time Cohen has faced arrest due to political activism. In 2023, he was taken into custody outside the Department of Justice while demonstrating for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Back in 2021, Ben & Jerry’s made headlines for ceasing sales in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, further highlighting the company’s stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Gaza Continues to Face Issues
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to intensify. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, over 52,928 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in the Israeli military offensive since the war began in response to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left 1,218 Israelis dead, primarily civilians. A recent UN-backed food security report warned that Gaza’s population is at “critical risk of famine,” with over 22 percent of the population experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe.
Ben & Jerry’s itself is currently locked in a legal dispute with parent company Unilever. The ice cream brand has accused Unilever of dismissing its CEO David Stever over differing views on how politically vocal the company should be.
Reflecting on his visibility and responsibility, Cohen said, “I understand that I have a higher profile than most people, and so I raise my voice, it gets heard. But I need you and others to understand that I speak for millions of people who feel the same way.”
