Ben Cohen, one of many co-founders of the ice cream firm Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested on Capitol Hill Wednesday afternoon throughout a Senate listening to involving Well being and Human Companies (HHS) Division Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
United States Capitol Police (USCP) confirmed Tuesday afternoon that Cohen was amongst seven individuals arrested after they disrupted the listening to.
Whereas Cohen was solely arrested on prices of obstruction, others concerned within the protest have been arrested for resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, Capitol Police stated.
Nonetheless, it’s unclear how many individuals have been charged with the extra extreme violations.
“RFK kills people with hate!” a protester yelled throughout the listening to as Kennedy delivered his opening assertion.
“RFK kills people with hate!” the mantra continued, with extra voices becoming a member of in. “RFK kills individuals with hate!“
A number of individuals have been ultimately escorted out of the room, and Sen. Invoice Cassidy, R-La., chairman of the Senate Committee on Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions (HELP), paused the listening to.
In video of the disruption posted on X by The Every day Caller, Cohen might be seen being forcibly pulled out of the listening to room by a Capitol Police officer.
“Members of the audience are reminded disruptions will not be permitted while the committee conducts its business. Capitol Police are asked to remove the individuals from the hearing room,” Cassidy stated as Cohen was being wrangled out of the room.
“That was a made-for-C-SPAN moment,” Cassidy quipped after issues settled down.
Wednesday wasn’t the primary time Cohen has been arrested whereas protesting within the nation’s capital. In 2023, he was arrested exterior the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) for blocking the doorway to the Division of Justice (DOJ) constructing in Washington, DC, the place he was protesting the detainment of Julian Assange.
Ben & Jerry’s is often a goal of Republicans, who’ve slammed the corporate and its founders over their assist of progressive activism and politicians. They’re additionally frequent critics of Trump.
Ben & Jerry’s has been identified for its left-leaning advocacy since its founding in 1978, and the Vermont-based ice cream maker was in a position to keep an impartial board of administrators to proceed its progressive activism even after it offered to Unilever in 2000.
A type of moments included a choice by Ben & Jerry’s in 2021 that ended the sale of its merchandise to Israelis within the West Financial institution, which the corporate refers to as “Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
