Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen, and six other people, were arrested after interrupting a U.S. Senate hearing in protest of American support for Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza. As reported, the American businessman was escorted out after disrupting Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ‘s speech, shouting against U.S. complicity in war crimes, urging lawmakers to cut financial aid to occupying forces amidst ongoing attacks on the Strip.
“Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the US,” Cohen shouted as he was dragged away by relevant authorities at the time of the event.
Arrested on charges of “crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” in an interview with French news agency AFP following his release, the 74-year-old explained speaking on behalf of “millions of Americans outraged by the slaughter in Gaza.”
@nytimes One of the founders of Ben & Jerry’s, Ben Cohen, was arrested on Wednesday after he interrupted a Senate committee hearing to protest Congress’s funding for Israel’s military as it wages war against Hamas in Gaza. #Israel #Palestine #Gaza #BenJerrys ♬ original sound – The New York Times
“It got to a point where we had to do something. It is scandalizing that the US approved $20 billion worth of bombs for Israel even as social programs are squeezed back home. The majority of Americans hate what’s going on, what our country is doing with our money and in our name,” he continued.
Punishable by a 90-days in prison, or a $500 fine, or potentially both, it is yet to be known if, how, or when the charges against Cohen and the others will be pursued by prosecutors. That said, Cohen remains unapologetic in his stance, raising awareness and mobilizing opposition to the United State’s heavy “war-related spending.”
An avid critic of the country’s complicity in foreign conflicts, especially in Occupied Palestinian Territories, the New York-born activist slash philanthropist has been a catalyzing voice of resistance against U.S. aid to Israel. Never one to shy away from speaking up, he has leveraged his public profile and company resources to challenge U.S. foreign policy, fund humanitarian initiatives, and support movements advocating for Palestinian rights— all while continuing to call for a reimagining of American priorities rooted elsewhere than in military dominance and geopolitical self-interest.
I’m proud to be 1 of 100+ to sign this letter. #CeasefireNOW https://t.co/PsMGLMOvow
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) March 20, 2024
Over the years, Cohen repeatedly made headlines for notably supporting Ben & Jerry’s decision to end the sales of products in illegal settlements, labelling AIPAC’s lobbying efforts as unfair and antidemocratic, as well as calling for greater accountability in how American tax dollars are used to fund violence abroad instead of addressing urgent needs on home soil.
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