Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Arrested at Senate Protest

On May 14, 2025, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen and six other protesters were arrested after disrupting a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was testifying. Cohen and the demonstrators protested U.S. military aid to Israel and cuts to Medicaid, also criticizing RFK Jr.'s vaccine positions. Capitol Police charged Cohen with obstruction and others with resisting arrest and assault on an officer. The protest, which included shouting and signs, drew national media attention and sparked debate about the roles of corporate activism and public protest. Following the incident, Unilever stock and major cryptocurrencies saw minor declines. The event highlighted intensifying debate in U.S. politics over foreign policy and domestic welfare spending.