Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Arrested for Disrupting RFK Jr. Senate Testimony with Anti-Israel Protest
Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, was arrested on Capitol Hill after causing a disruption during a Senate hearing featuring Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The incident unfolded during RFK Jr.’s testimony before the Senate Health Committee, where Cohen and a group of protesters shouted down the proceedings with political slogans and anti-Israel messaging.
Cohen, along with six others, was removed by Capitol Police and charged with “crowding, obstructing, or incommoding”—a misdemeanor frequently applied to activists who intentionally disrupt federal proceedings in Washington, D.C.
The protest broke out as Kennedy was delivering his opening remarks. Protesters shouted phrases such as “RFK kills people with hate!” and accused Congress of enabling war in Gaza while cutting domestic health care programs. After his arrest, Cohen defended the stunt, claiming the U.S. government “kills poor kids in Gaza by buying bombs” and “pays for it by kicking kids off Medicaid in the U.S.”
Cohen’s comments echoed longstanding far-left talking points and highlighted the increasing radicalization of progressive activism—especially among figures in the corporate elite. Ben & Jerry’s has long been known for promoting left-wing causes, though Unilever, which acquired the company in 2000, was quick to distance itself from the incident, stating that Cohen acted as a private citizen and not on behalf of the brand.
Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen among protesters removed from RFK Jr. hearing on HHS budget pic.twitter.com/ZxYnY7IFMt
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) May 14, 2025
The stunt adds to ongoing tensions between Ben & Jerry’s leadership and its parent company, particularly over divisive political activism surrounding Israel and U.S. foreign policy. The company has previously drawn backlash for controversial statements and boycotts tied to Middle Eastern politics.
RFK Jr., who remained composed throughout the disruption, later addressed the incident by reaffirming his commitment to restoring transparency, reducing bureaucratic waste, and protecting American lives—especially through reforms to the nation’s health programs.
For many observers, Cohen’s arrest is the latest example of performative activism that distracts from serious policy debates. As Secretary Kennedy focuses on cleaning up the nation’s health system, his critics—some of them billionaire ice cream moguls—appear more interested in spectacle than solutions.