Ben & Jerry's Expresses Their Political Views With New Ice Cream Flavor

Ben & Jerry's Expresses Their Political Views With New Ice Cream Flavor

Just in time for the 2018 midterm elections, Ben & Jerry's has released their newest ice cream flavor. Like many other varieties of the Vermont-made treat, the name of this flavor has a special meaning. 

However, rather than being cute, funny, or paying homage to a celebrity, this one carries a powerful political message. 

Pecan Resist is a limited batch flavor made with chocolate ice cream, white and dark fudge chunks, pecans, walnuts, and fudge-covered almonds.

The colorful artwork for the carton was designed by Boston artist and activist, Favianna Rodriguez. It features three women of color and the message:

"Welcome to the resistance. Together, Pecan Resist! We honor & stand with women, immigrants, people of color, & the millions of activists and allies who are courageously resisting the President’s attack on our values, humanity & environment. We celebrate the diversity of our glorious nation & raise our spoons in solidarity for all Americans. Take a stand & join those on the front lines at benjerry.com/pecanresist.”

Representatives from Ben & Jerry's converged on Washington to introduce the flavor and spread their message. They also partnered with four community and social justice groups, Color of ChangeHonor the EarthNeta, and Women’s Marchdonating $25,000 to each organization.

“We couldn’t be prouder or more excited to support these four organizations that are doing incredible work every day,” said Ben & Jerry’s CEO Matthew McCarthy in a press release. “Our goal is to use our company’s voice, our ice cream, and our activism to encourage all Americans to support and help build these movements which counter the current regressive agenda. We think it’s more important now than ever that citizens and businesses alike stand up and be counted.”

 

"We cannot be silent in the face of the President's policies that attack and attempt to roll back decades of progress on racial and gender equity, climate change, LGBTQ rights, and refugee and immigrant rights – all issues that have been at the core of our social mission for 40 years," the press release continued.

Despite the company's laid-back modus operandi, this is not the first time they have taken a political stance through their ice cream. In 2016, they released the flavor, EmpowerMint to promote voting rights; and in 2009, they temporarily changed Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby to celebrate same sex marriage in Vermont.

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