Ben & Jerry co-founder among those arrested for protesting during RFK Jr.'s Senate appearance

One of Ben & Jerry's co-founders, Ben Cohen, was arrested on Wednesday as one of the demonstrators who disrupted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appearance before a Senate committee.

Kennedy testified in front of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, where he confirmed that an incident involving two contractors that shuttered a biosafety lab at a Western Maryland Army base is being investigated by the FBI. 

Cohen and six other demonstrators were arrested by the United States Capitol Police after they disrupted the hearing to chant "RFK kills people with hate!" Fox News reported. He has been charged with obstruction, but others were charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

A video of the encounter showed Cohen being forcibly pulled out of the hearing room by a Capitol Police officer.

"Members of the audience are reminded disruptions will not be permitted while the committee conducts its business," Sen. Bill Cassidy said while Cohen was escorted out. "Capitol Police are asked to remove the individuals from the hearing room."

The incident was not the first time Cohen has been arrested for protesting in Washington, D.C. The co-founder was also arrested outside the Department of Homeland Security in 2023 while protesting Julian Assange's detainment. 

Ben & Jerry's is also known for its liberal activism and made headlines in 2021 for ending its sale of ice cream to Israelis in Gaza in protest of Israel's war with Hamas.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.