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By Gabe Whisnant
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Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream and longtime activist, was arrested Wednesday after interrupting a Senate hearing to protest U.S. policy on Gaza.
The incident occurred during testimony by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., when Cohen stood and shouted, "Congress sent the bombs that kill children in Gaza and pays it with cuts to Medicaid," before being escorted out by Capitol Police.
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According to NBC News, Cohen was one of seven protesters forcibly removed from the hearing and charged with the misdemeanor offense of Crowding, Obstructing, and Incommoding, which prohibits demonstrations inside congressional buildings.
The Ben & Jerry's co-founder posted on X, formerly Twitter, after his arrest and release from custody, "I told Congress they're killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and they're paying for it by kicking poor kids off Medicaid in the US. This was the authorities' response."
A spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police told Newsweek that "one or some" of the protesters also face additional charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.
Ben Cohen Arrested in 2023
Cohen has previously been arrested for demonstrations supporting press freedom and protesting military policies.
On July 6, 2023, Cohen was arrested outside the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., during a protest against the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Cohen, alongside CODEPINK co-founder Jodie Evans, blocked the building's entrance to demonstrate their opposition to what they view as an attack on press freedom. During the protest, Cohen set fire to a sign reading "Freedom of the Press," declaring, "Freedom of the press is going up in smoke."
Cohen and Evans were charged with unlawful entry after refusing to leave the premises. They were detained for approximately three hours before being released.
Following his release, Cohen tweeted, "It's time for @POTUS to follow thru with his promise—Journalism is NOT a crime." Assange faces 18 charges in the U.S., including 17 under the Espionage Act, related to the publication of classified documents. He remains in a high-security prison in London, contesting extradition to the United States.
Ben & Jerry's CEO Fired, Results in Lawsuit
In March, Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's said its chief was fired for social activism.
David Stever, who began his career at Ben & Jerry's in 1988 and ascended to CEO in 2023, was removed from his position by parent company Unilever. Ben & Jerry's alleges that this dismissal was due to Stever's steadfast commitment to the company's progressive social mission, including public stances on issues such as Palestinian rights and critiques of President Donald Trump.
The ice cream brand contends that Unilever's actions breached the 2000 merger agreement, which established an independent board to safeguard Ben & Jerry's values and required consultation before any CEO removal.
In response, Ben & Jerry's filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, asserting that Unilever's interference undermines the brand's autonomy and social advocacy efforts. The company claims that Unilever has increasingly attempted to silence its activism, including blocking statements supporting a ceasefire in Gaza and commemorations like Black History Month.
Unilever, while expressing disappointment over the public disclosure of internal matters, maintains that it acted within its rights under the merger agreement and had sought to engage with Ben & Jerry's board in good faith. Last month, Unilever called for the dismissal of the lawsuit.
Update: 5/14/25, 6:45 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 5/14/25, 7:35 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/14/25, 7:46 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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