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With much of the news cycle currently occupied by developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, it’s a challenging time for brands who have previously spoken out on issues surrounding the global climate.
Even for those who have opted to take a publicly neutral stance in the war are finding themselves having to mitigate the divisive topic cropping up in the workplace among staff who likely hold a range of opinions and beliefs.
However, one brand that has chosen to speak out, at least about activism surrounding the conflict, is Ben & Jerry’s.
This week, the board of the ice cream brand, known for its social activism, voiced its support for the pro-Palestinian protests sweeping across U.S. college campuses and graduation ceremonies.
The Vermont-based company, owned by Unilever, has a history of taking strong stances on social justice issues.
The board emphasized the importance of free speech and non-violent protest in democracy, drawing parallels between the current protests in solidarity with Gaza and historic movements such as lunch counter sit-ins and protests against the Vietnam War and Apartheid South Africa.
“Lunch counter sit-ins, student-led protests against the Vietnam War and Apartheid South Africa, and now the campus protests in solidarity with Gaza, all are part of our rich history of free speech and non-violent protest that makes change and is essential to a strong democracy,” the board said in the statement.
These comments come in the wake of Ben & Jerry's previous decision, three years ago, to cease selling its ice cream in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, citing values misalignment.
This move prompted Unilever, the parent company, to seek alternative arrangements for selling the product in Israel, eventually offloading its Israeli Ben & Jerry's business to a local licensee.
However, the board of Ben & Jerry's pursued legal action to block the sale, with the lawsuit being later resolved.
Unilever is currently planning to spin out its ice cream unit by 2025 as part of its efforts to simplify its business structure.
Over the years, Ben & Jerry's has remained vocal on various social issues, including gay marriage, prison reform and abortion rights.
