Normally a post on social media by an ice cream company would not garner much vitriol. Enter Ben & Jerry’s.
On Monday, the company made a post on social media to commemorate National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day. The message was not well received.
“Today is National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day! We stand with abortion providers today and every day. Learn more and take action at the link in our bio. #nationalabortionproviderappreciationda,” the post read.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded with outrage with posts on X.
“Tragic. Ben & Jerry’s hates you and openly hates your values,” he said in one post.
In another post, the senate urged people to buy Blue Bell.
“Throw Ben & Jerry’s in the trash,” he posted. “Buy Blue Bell instead!”
Both of Cruz’s posts were reposts of one from activist Lila Rose.
“Ben & Jerry’s are publicly celebrating abortionists today. Despicable and horrific,” she wrote. “An icecream company celebrating the killing of babies. Time to boycott them!”
Many others posted their disapproval on X.
This is not the first time Ben & Jerry’s has sparked thought-provoking topics.
Owners Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield penned an op-ed in November 2021 when they argued, “While Black people bear the brunt of police brutality, it’s white people who allow this racism to continue,” per IJR.
They continued, “Ours is a majority white society. White people elect the officials who appoint police chiefs. Police chiefs are overwhelmingly white. The people we pay to protect and serve are killing and brutalizing Black people before our very eyes. And we’re letting them get away with it.”
Cohen and Greenfield listed instances of police brutality, adding, “When we were growing up, our mothers taught us the policeman was our friend. Black mothers have no choice but to teach their children to fear the police.”
In September of that year, the company launched a new flavor in support of Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-Mo.) legislation, the People’s Response Act, as IJR reported.
The website explained, “Grab your spoon & dig into a flavor boldly celebrating safety & liberation for all. It’s time to divest from systems that criminalize Black communities & invest in a vision of public safety that allows everyone to breathe free.”
