Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream have always been unconventional in their approach to business, but their support of people of color of has set off a firestorm of controversy.
On Facebook, they made the proclamation:
“Our scoop shop managers got to meet THE Ben and Jerry at the annual franchisee/manager retreat! Stay tune to see how our shop will implement Ben’s take on “hands up don’t shoot” campaign to address police brutality and empower children of color.”
Ben Cohen talked directly about about #BlackLivesMatter at the Ben & Jerry’s Franchisee Meeting, name checking John Crawford, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and more. See it below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKBpn3Jv-kU?feature=player_detailpage&w=640&h=360]
Ben’s Hand Up United (handsupunited.org) shirt upset many, who expressed their outrage on social media.
“Please don’t call Law Enforcement when your shops are vadelilzed by the thugs you are supporting when the next “peaceful protest” takes place near one of your “disrespectful” establishments. Pathetic liberal F*t###!!!!,” said Shannon Daly Moran, seen below.
Another person, Doug Ryan said he will no longer eat the delicious ice cream any more because of the political statement, which really means don’t kill unarmed citizens.
“Guess I won’t be eating Ben & Jerry ice cream anymore. It’s not even the fact that it’s anti LE it’s the fact that they choose to ignore factual information. So they will fight “police brutality” by wearing a shirt that has a meaning for something that never actually happened?”
This is Doug, an officer of the law:
Doug and Shannon were met with opposition from those that support Ben and Jerry to express their views.
“The point of the hands up don’t shoot campaign is that cops shoot first ask questions later It is a stupid campaign and the cops haven’t done anything wrong. Anyone who supports it I have no respect for,” said Robert Osbourne.
Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield no longer own Ben & Jerry’s, but we at AllHipHop will continue to support the franchise simply for the revolutionary stance of their founders.