Ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s announced its support for Rep. Cori Bush’s (D-Mo.) legislation, the People’s Response Act, by launching a new flavor.
“Sweet justice! Today Congresswoman [Cori Bush] and [Monifa Bandele] were with us in DC as we launched our newest flavor, Change is Brewing! These chunks and swirls are working in collaboration with [Movement 4 Black Lives] to support the People’s Response Act,” the company tweeted.
Sweet justice! Today Congresswoman @CoriBush and @monifabandele were with us in DC as we launched our newest flavor, Change is Brewing! These chunks and swirls are working in collaboration with @Mvmnt4BlkLives to support the People's Response Act. More: https://t.co/O7dwJNZu07 pic.twitter.com/HYPUcOFE17
— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) September 20, 2021
The company explained on its website, “Grab your spoon & dig into a flavor boldly celebrating safety & liberation for all. It’s time to divest from systems that criminalize Black communities & invest in a vision of public safety that allows everyone to breathe free. Learn more about a visionary plan to reimagine public safety and take action below!”
According to a news release, the flavor is “a cool combination of cold brew coffee ice cream, marshmallow swirls and fudge brownies.”
It was created to “help transform the nation’s approach to public safety to one that prioritizes community needs,” according to the release.
The company continued, “Change is Brewing is part of Ben & Jerry’s ongoing work to advance racial justice, calling for the nation to divest from a broken criminal legal system and invest in services that help communities thrive, like mental health treatment, counseling, substance use treatment, and healthcare.”
Additionally, the press release noted the legislation “was written to transform a system that disproportionately criminalizes Black and Brown people into a system that provides resources to help every community, and especially communities of color, thrive.”
Jabari Paul, US Activism Manager for Ben & Jerry’s expressed appreciation for Bush, saying her “legislation begins to make that important link by creating a public safety division within the Department of Health and Human Services.”
During an event on Monday, Bush acknowledged the support.
“Where I’m from, we’re sick and tired of dying,” Bush said. “Our communities have been hurting, we face gun violence on a daily basis.”
She continued, “We know that this goes back to systems that were not mean to lift us.”