Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested on May 14, 2025, during a protest at a U.S. Senate hearing in Washington, D.C. Cohen, along with other activists, disrupted a session featuring Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Cohen was zip-tied and charged with “crowding, obstructing or incommoding.” In a video shared online, he said, “Congress and the senators need to ease the siege… let food to starving kids,” and accused lawmakers of “killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs.”
Reactions on social media were mixed. Some criticized him for disrupting the hearing, while others expressed concern over how he was treated during the arrest.
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. pic.twitter.com/uOf7xrzzWM
— Ben Cohen (@YoBenCohen) May 14, 2025
Cohen is known for his activism and social justice efforts beyond business. Though Unilever now owns Ben & Jerry’s, a company spokesperson emphasized that Cohen acted independently.
The incident has reignited debate over U.S. aid to Israel and the limits of protest in political spaces. The trial continues as attention remains on Cohen’s outspoken stand.
