Context:

Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was among seven individuals arrested during a U.S. Capitol hearing where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was testifying. Cohen's protest was aimed at criticizing the U.S. response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which he linked to financial decisions affecting Medicaid in the U.S. The hearing, held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, was disrupted by protesters shouting accusations against RFK Jr. Cohen's remarks highlighted a broader critique of U.S. policy, suggesting a connection between international military aid and domestic healthcare funding. Ben & Jerry's, known for its corporate activism, has previously taken political stances on various issues, including those related to the Palestinian territories.

Dive Deeper:

• Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's, was arrested alongside six others during a hearing featuring U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as confirmed by police.

• Cohen's protest during the Capitol Hill hearing was focused on the U.S. response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which he criticized for diverting funds from essential domestic programs like Medicaid.

• The disruption at the Senate HELP Committee hearing was marked by protesters shouting accusations that RFK Jr. promotes hate, leading to their removal by police.

• Cohen's public statement linked U.S. military aid to the financial strain on domestic programs, accusing Congress of effectively harming impoverished children both in Gaza and the U.S.

• Ben & Jerry's, a company known for its political activism, has consistently voiced its stance on various global issues, including sales policies in Palestinian territories as discussed in previous media appearances.