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| Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen arrested after Senate Gaza protest | Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen arrested after Senate Gaza protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested during a protest in the US Senate over military aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. | Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested during a protest in the US Senate over military aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. |
| Protesters disrupted the hearing on Wednesday while Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr was testifying. | |
| Mr Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, while another six demonstrators were also arrested and face a number of more serious charges, US Capitol Police told BBC News. | Mr Cohen was charged with a misdemeanour offence, while another six demonstrators were also arrested and face a number of more serious charges, US Capitol Police told BBC News. |
| A video shared on social media showed Mr Cohen being escorted from the building by police with his hands tied behind his back. | A video shared on social media showed Mr Cohen being escorted from the building by police with his hands tied behind his back. |
| "Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the US," he said in a video after someone asked why he was "getting arrested". | "Congress kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs, and pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the US," he said in a video after someone asked why he was "getting arrested". |
| A police spokesperson said that Mr Cohen was charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding - a misdemeanour offence often used in civil disobedience cases in the US capital. | A police spokesperson said that Mr Cohen was charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding - a misdemeanour offence often used in civil disobedience cases in the US capital. |
| Six other demonstrators were also arrested at the hearing and face charges including assaulting a police officer and/or resisting arrest. | Six other demonstrators were also arrested at the hearing and face charges including assaulting a police officer and/or resisting arrest. |
| Moment Ben & Jerry's co-founder interrupts RFK speech | Moment Ben & Jerry's co-founder interrupts RFK speech |
| Ben & Jerry's has long been known for taking a public stance on social and political issues since it was founded in 1978 by Mr Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. | Ben & Jerry's has long been known for taking a public stance on social and political issues since it was founded in 1978 by Mr Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. |
| It has often backed campaigns on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. | It has often backed campaigns on issues like LGBTQ+ rights and climate change. |
| Ben & Jerry's was bought by the multinational consumers goods giant Unilever in 2000. | Ben & Jerry's was bought by the multinational consumers goods giant Unilever in 2000. |
| The merger agreement between the two companies created an independent board tasked with protecting Ben & Jerry's values and mission. | The merger agreement between the two companies created an independent board tasked with protecting Ben & Jerry's values and mission. |
| But Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have been at loggerheads for a while. Their relationship soured in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it was halting sales in the West Bank. | But Unilever and Ben & Jerry's have been at loggerheads for a while. Their relationship soured in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced it was halting sales in the West Bank. |
| The two companies are currently locked in a legal battle. | The two companies are currently locked in a legal battle. |
| In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Unilever told BBC News: "Ben Cohen takes stances as an activist citizen on issues he finds personally important. | In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Unilever told BBC News: "Ben Cohen takes stances as an activist citizen on issues he finds personally important. |
| "These actions are on his own as an individual and not on behalf of Ben & Jerry's or Unilever." | "These actions are on his own as an individual and not on behalf of Ben & Jerry's or Unilever." |
| In March, Ben & Jerry's filed a legal case accusing Unilever of sacking chief executive David Stever over disagreements over the brand's political campaigns. | In March, Ben & Jerry's filed a legal case accusing Unilever of sacking chief executive David Stever over disagreements over the brand's political campaigns. |
| At the time a Unilever spokesperson said it was "disappointed that the confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been made public". | At the time a Unilever spokesperson said it was "disappointed that the confidentiality of an employee career conversation has been made public". |
| The dispute escalated over the last year as Ben & Jerry's advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza. | The dispute escalated over the last year as Ben & Jerry's advocated for a ceasefire in Gaza. |