Less than a week after the deadly Capitol insurrection, Ben & Jerry’s issued a bold statement condemning white supremacy. As President Joe Biden took office, the ice cream company, known for championing social justice causes, called on white people to take action in dismantling systemic racism.
“The events of January 6, 2021, were not a protest—it was a riot to uphold white supremacy,” their January 11 statement declared. They highlighted how the mostly white mob freely stormed the Capitol, contrasting this with record voter turnout driven by Black voters in Georgia’s historic Senate races. The company emphasized the stark divide between two Americas: one of democracy at its best and another of white privilege and tyranny.
Ben & Jerry’s urged accountability, stating, “How we respond to January 6 will define which America we become.” Co-founder Jerry Greenfield also called for criminal justice reform, specifically addressing the need for police accountability and the dismantling of qualified immunity to rebuild trust with communities.
What are your thoughts on Ben & Jerry’s call for white people to take a stand against white supremacy?
