'They Are Killing Poor Kids': Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested, Dragged Away During Senate Protest | Watch Video

Last Updated:May 15, 2025, 10:14 IST

Cohen's arrest came during a protest that disrupted a Senate hearing involving Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, was arrested on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. (Image: Reuters)

Co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Ben Cohen, was arrested on Capitol Hill on Wednesday while protesting against the US military’s aid to Israel and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Cohen’s arrest came during a protest that disrupted a Senate hearing involving Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

“You’re killing poor kids in Gaza and paying for it by cutting Medicaid for kids here," Cohen was heard shouting from the public gallery. “Let food into Gaza," he added as he was led away.

The videos of Cohen being escorted out by the police with his hands tied behind his back are going viral on social media.

According to CNN, the Capitol Police said Cohen was charged under a District of Columbia code that prohibits crowding, obstructing or incommoding — a citation often used in civil disobedience cases in the capital.

In addition to Cohen, six other demonstrators were also arrested at the hearing.

Who Is Ben Cohen?

Cohen, a longtime progressive activist, co-founded the famous ice cream brand — Ben & Jerry’s in 1978 with Jerry Greenfield.

Ben & Jerry’s is currently embroiled in a legal fight with its parent company, Unilever PLC. In a lawsuit filed in March, the company accused Unilever of firing Chief Executive Officer David Stever over disagreements regarding how outspoken the brand should be on political issues.

United States of America (USA)

News world 'They Are Killing Poor Kids': Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Arrested, Dragged Away During Senate Protest | Watch Video