Black Lives Matter. Choosing to be silent in the face of such injustice is not an option. https://t.co/6Vy0KHJeKU #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/pK96teLRhd
— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) October 6, 2016
On top of keeping us all stocked in Phish Food and Cherry Garcia, Ben & Jerry’s has been deeply committed to many political causes, protesting injustice one pint at a time. Their stances are historically left of center, and the latest is no different. On Thursday, Ben & Jerry’s posted an essay to their website in strong support of the Black Lives Matter movement, claiming that “Choosing to be silent in the face of such injustice is not an option.”
In the essay, Ben & Jerry’s claims that their support of Black Lives Matter is a moral issue and that “all lives will not matter until black lives do.”
“It’s been hard to watch the list of unarmed Black Americans killed by law enforcement officers grow longer and longer. We understand that numerous Black Americans and white Americans have profoundly different experiences and outcomes with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. That’s why it’s become clear to us at Ben & Jerry’s that we have a moral obligation to take a stand now for justice and for Black lives…
Black lives matter. They matter because they are children, brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. We’ve come to understand that to be silent about the violence and threats to the lives and well-being of Black people is to be complicit in that violence and those threats.”
Signed “Your friends at Ben & Jerry’s,” the entire powerful essay is worth a read. While this is sure to ruffle some feathers — prepare yourself for Fox News pundits urging their viewers to boycott in the face of such “liberal nonsense” — it’s encouraging to see a company take a stand during such a controversial time. Perhaps toss an extra pint of Americone Dream into your grocery cart to show your support.
(Via Ben & Jerry’s)