Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, protests by burning Bill of Rights outside Department of Justice.

Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founder Sets Fire to Replica of Bill of Rights in Protest

Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, made a powerful statement on Thursday outside the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In a bold act of protest, he set fire to a replica of the Bill of Rights.

Cohen, known for his business acumen, activism, and philanthropy, led the demonstration to condemn the treatment of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, and to underscore the vital importance of a free press.

A Stand for the First Amendment

“Little did we know that our greatest struggle would be when we tried to bring the First Amendment to the United States,” expressed Cohen, who stepped down as CEO of Ben & Jerry’s in 1996.

Cohen firmly believes that Assange, as a publisher, only shared the truth. “Anything he ever published was the truth,” he asserted. “And, the truth revealed war crimes and government lies to the U.S. Congress and to the people.”

While former President Barack Obama refrained from prosecuting Assange, citing the freedom of the press, Cohen criticized President Trump for breaking with precedent and indicting a publisher for publishing the truth.

A Call for Change

President Joe Biden has publicly stated that “journalism is not a crime,” according to Cohen. However, Assange remains in custody in the United Kingdom as the U.S. continues its extradition efforts.

“Right now, unless things change, and unless we change them, freedom of the press is going up in smoke,” warned Cohen as he ignited the replica of the Bill of Rights, which bore the words “Freedom of the Press.”

“I’m gonna light this Bill of Rights in four places,” he declared passionately. “One for each year that Assange has been held in solitary confinement.”

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