Ben & Jerry's Says Black Lives Matter; Some Call For Ice Cream Boycott
BURLINGTON, Vt. (CBS) –Ben & Jerry's declared "Black lives matter" on Thursday, garnering praise from many of their fans while others said they'd never buy their ice cream again.
The Vermont-based company said in a statement that "systemic and institutionalized racism are the defining civil rights and social justice issues of our time," and it was time to take a stand.
Black Lives Matter. Choosing to be silent in the face of such injustice is not an option.
Posted by Ben & Jerry's on Thursday, October 6, 2016
"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," Ben & Jerry's said.
The strong stance was applauded by most people on the company's Facebook page.
But some opposed to the Black Lives Matter cause said they'd stop buying their ice cream.
"I am officially boycotting the overpriced Ben and Jerry's ice cream," another commenter wrote.
Ben & Jerry's says it decided to make this statement "as the list of unarmed Black Americans killed by law enforcement officers grow longer and longer," and explained why saying "All Lives Matter" isn't adequate.
"All lives do matter. But all lives will not matter until Black lives matter," Ben & Jerry's said.
The company is no stranger to taking political stances.
Previously, the ice cream maker has released products to celebrate gay marriage and raise awareness about global warming.