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4d ago

Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested During Senate Protest Against Gaza Blockade

Ben Cohen disrupted a Senate hearing, linking U.S. military aid to Israel with proposed Medicaid cuts, and now faces misdemeanor charges alongside six other protesters.

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(L-R) Jerry Greenfield and Ben Cohen, co-founders of Ben & Jerry's, partnered with MoveOn to hand out free ice cream at Franklin Square in Philadelphia during their Scoop The Vote tour to get-out-the-vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and Democrats down the ballot. on September 16, 2024 in Philadelphia.

Overview

  • Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested at a Senate hearing while protesting U.S. support for Israel's Gaza blockade and proposed Medicaid reductions.
  • Cohen shouted accusations that Congress funds bombs killing children in Gaza while cutting Medicaid for low-income families in the U.S. before being removed by Capitol Police.
  • He was charged with misdemeanor crowding, obstructing, or incommoding, while six other protesters face additional charges of resisting arrest and assaulting police officers.
  • Prior to the hearing, Cohen participated in a press conference with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, urging the U.S. to pressure Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza.
  • Cohen has a history of activism, including a 2023 arrest during a protest supporting Julian Assange, and has amplified his protest message through social media following his release.