The co-founder of Ben & Jerry stopped after having disrupted the Senate hearing with Pro-Gaza Protest

A co-founder of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream manufacturer was arrested on Wednesday during an audience of the senatorial committee which included testimonies from the secretary of health and social services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a spokesman for the American Capitol.

Ben Cohen was one of the seven people arrested at the hearing held by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the spokesman said.

Images of the incident shows Several demonstrators standing and brandishing signs of a cry, “RFK kills people with AIDS”, while Kennedy pronounced a testimony. A few moments later, Cohen got up and accused the congress of having played a role in the death of the children in Gaza in the midst of the War of Israel-Hamas.

Senator Bill Cassidy, R-La., Chairman of the Committee, asked the Capitol police to remove the demonstrators from the courtroom.

The agents physically withdrew Cohen and six other pro -Gaza demonstrators and charged them with sleeping, obstruction and inconvenience – an offense. It is contrary to the law to protest in the buildings of the Congress.

All except Cohen, also faced charges of resistance to arrest and assault against a police office, said the Capitol police.

“It was a moment made for C-SPAN,” said Cassidy, before the hearing resumed.

In a video taken shortly after his arrest that he Posted on XCohen can be heard repeating his protest message.

“Congress kills poor children in Gaza by buying bombs and paying it by launching children in Medicaid in the United States,” said Cohen, while he was escorted in police constraints.

“Congress and senators must mitigate the seat,” added Cohen. “They need to let food enter Gaza. They must leave food for hungry children. “

Cohen has since been released from police custody.

Ben and Jerry did not immediately respond to a request for comments on Wednesday evening.

The management of Ben & Jerry has criticized the Israeli government over the years. In 2021, business said he would stop selling his ice in the occupied territories.

“We believe that this is incompatible with our values ​​for Ben & Jerry ice cream for sale in the occupied Palestinian territory,” the company said in a statement at the time.