January 6th, 2021 was an unusual moment in American history. It was the day that an angry mob descended on the United States Capitol. But some commentary on this political event has come from a surprising source – the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company. Of course, this isn’t so surprising to people who are familiar with the company’s politics. Someone who only knows them from occasionally having a bite of ice cream might be shocked that a confectionary company would critique political activities. But people who know the history of Ben % Jerry’s understand that this isn’t anything out of the ordinary. The circumstances under examination are certainly above and beyond the norm. But Ben & Jerry’s itself has been fighting for social justice since the company’s inception. In fact, in many ways, this is exactly what separates it from the competition. However, the unprecedented events have sparked an unequivocal judgment from the ice cream company. It’s clear that they’re quite passionate about the subject. And they’re also making a connection which leads them to a firm denouncement and a strong message.
The company heads noticed that the riot was conspicuously lacking ethnicities other than white people. They also allege that if that hadn’t been the case then the riot would have been firmly put down very early on during the event. Basically, the ice cream makers allege that the riot was a demonstration of both white privilege and white supremacy. Ben & Jerry’s also points out that it was something that was allowed to happen. The company goes on to elevate its concern by pointing to a specific action as the ultimate embodiment of white privilege. One of the rioters sat down in a seat that the vice president had occupied mere minutes in the past. Ben & Jerry’s also stresses that we need to examine the nature of the country as a whole in the wake of this event. It points out that, in many ways, we’re looking at a country that’s been split in two. On one hand, we have the January 6th election. Voters came out in record numbers. And one of the strongest motivating forces there were the black voices. These were the voices of people calling for and united by the chance to create lasting change in a uniquely American way.
But on the other side of things the company sees a very different America. This is an America where a mostly white mob can be encouraged by the President toward unlawful actions. It’s an America where those same people are led in a violent attempt to overturn a fair and free election. An election that was uniquely prompted by the voices of Black voters. Ben & Jerry’s points out that both of those Americas are in us. They also point out that Black and Brown people have long understood the nature of the country. They’ve seen white tyranny since the very first days in which the nation was founded. Ben & Jerry’s goes on to stress that we’ll win large part be defined by our response to this riot. We can demand resignations. We can call for and demand impeachments. We can stand behind the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. And it’s not just that we can do all of this. We must hold tight to these actions, and can’t let them wait one more day. Ben & Jerry’s also notes that now that President Biden’s administration has begun that we can take a closer look at justice reform.
