Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen found himself in handcuffs after disrupting a Senate hearing featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr., igniting a fierce debate over the boundaries of free speech and exposing unlikely political alliances forming across traditional ideological lines.
Key Takeaways
- Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, was arrested along with six others for disrupting a Senate HELP Committee hearing involving HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Cohen, 74, was protesting U.S. policy in Gaza, claiming “Congress is killing poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs” while cutting domestic social programs
- The incident has spotlighted unusual political alignments, with some conservatives embracing traditionally left-wing figures who share specific positions on issues like government surveillance and foreign policy
- Media personalities like Glenn Beck have raised concerns about whether these alliances represent a fundamental shift in conservative viewpoints or strategic temporary alliances
- This marks Cohen’s second arrest for protest activities after a previous detention in 2023 outside the Department of Homeland Security
The Senate Hearing Disruption
On May 14, 2025, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing erupted into chaos when protesters, including Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen, disrupted proceedings during Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s testimony. Video footage captured Cohen being forcibly removed by Capitol Police after shouting protest slogans about Gaza. Senator Bill Cassidy, chairman of the committee, was forced to pause the hearing as protesters chanted, “RFK kills people with hate!” Capitol Police swiftly moved to restore order, removing several individuals from the chamber.
“Members of the audience are reminded that disruptions will not be permitted while the committee conducts its business. Capitol Police are asked to remove the individuals from the hearing room,” stated Sen. Bill Cassidy, who later quipped, “That was a made-for-C-SPAN moment,” as stated by Fox News
Cohen, age 74, was among seven individuals arrested during the incident. Most face charges of “crowding, obstructing or incommoding,” while some protesters were additionally charged with resisting arrest and assaulting police officers. This marks Cohen’s second arrest for protest activities, following a previous detention in 2023 for demonstrating outside the Department of Homeland Security. The ice cream magnate later took to social media to defend his actions, framing his protest as a stand against misplaced government priorities.
Cohen’s Anti-War Stance
Following his arrest, Cohen posted a video on his X account explaining his motivations for the disruptive protest. His focus wasn’t primarily on Kennedy himself but rather on broader U.S. foreign policy concerns regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has become a flashpoint for activists across the political spectrum. Cohen has maintained his progressive activism long after selling the Ben & Jerry’s company to Unilever in 2000, with the ice cream brand retaining its reputation for social justice causes despite corporate ownership.
“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,” stated Ben Cohen following his arrest.
This is not the first time Cohen and the company he co-founded have courted political controversy. In 2021, Ben & Jerry’s made headlines by announcing it would stop selling products in the West Bank, referring to the region as “Occupied Palestinian Territory.” This move drew significant criticism from conservatives and pro-Israel advocates but aligned with the company’s long-standing progressive politics. Despite Cohen’s arrest, Ben & Jerry’s has not issued any official statement addressing the incident or Cohen’s protest activities.
Political Realignments and Strange Bedfellows
The incident has sparked considerable discussion about the curious political alliances forming in today’s polarized landscape. Commentators like Stu Burguiere of “The Glenn Beck Program” have noted the irony that Cohen was protesting against Kennedy, who might actually share many of Cohen’s views on these issues. This highlights the complex realignment happening as traditional party boundaries blur on certain issues, particularly related to foreign policy, government surveillance, and military intervention.
Burguiere pointed to a recent trend of conservatives embracing figures with traditionally left-leaning backgrounds who share specific positions, citing former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard as a prime example. Gabbard has transitioned from supporting Bernie Sanders to aligning with President Trump’s MAGA movement while maintaining many of her core positions. This phenomenon raises questions about whether these alliances represent opportunistic political maneuvering or signal deeper shifts in ideological foundations.
Glenn Beck suggested this trend reflects growing awareness among conservatives about certain issues rather than abandonment of principles. However, the increasing comfort with cross-ideological alliances has prompted soul-searching about the nature of political identity in today’s fragmented landscape. As Cohen’s arrest demonstrates, the traditional left-right political spectrum struggles to fully capture the complexity of modern political alignments, especially when it comes to issues like foreign interventionism, where anti-establishment figures from both sides often find common cause.
