May 17, 2016
We Launched Our New Flavor Today!
We recently launched Empower Mint, a peppermint ice cream with fudgy Greyston brownies, with an event at North Carolina Central University, the first public liberal arts institution for African Americans in the US. It was a rainy day, but the weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the many speakers who came to join the fight against North Carolina’s awful voter-suppression law and celebrate the new flavor.
Why is May 17th Significant?
Holding this event on May 17, 2016, was no accident. Sixty-two years ago today, the Supreme Court issued its Brown v. Board of Education ruling, ending the racist and discriminatory principle of “separate but equal.” Despite this, North Carolina and other states continue to pursue a “separate but equal” approach to voting, making it absurdly difficult for many citizens, especially minorities, to have their voices heard in our democracy.
It's Time to Raise Our Voices
We believe democracy only works when it works for everyone.
Restoring our democracy won’t be easy, but the speakers at the event today were filled with hope and determination. Here are some of the most inspiring things we heard.
The Most Inspiring Quotes of the Day
Ben Cohen
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry’s
Ben asked why an ice cream company should care about things like voting rights. “Because it’s unjust,” he said.
Quoting Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”
Jerry Greenfield
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry’s
“Ben and I were truly honored to be arrested with Rev. Barber protesting Big Money in politics.”
Ben and Jerry were joined by hundreds on the Capitol steps, including Rev. Barber, all raising their voices as one to say that we have to get the dough out of politics and reclaim our voting rights.
Ben Cohen
Co-Founder, Ben & Jerry’s
“The history of our country is stained with discrimination, and yet our country shines with a history of righting those wrongs.”
Time after time, when people rise up to demand justice, justice can be done.
Dr. Nelson Johnson
Pastor of Faith Community Church
Executive Director of The Beloved Community Center of Greensboro
“You can measure your power by the resistance you receive.”
Money keeps pouring in from the ultra-rich backers of North Carolina’s voter-suppression law, which means those fighting to overturn it must be doing something right…
Reverend Curtis Gatewood
NC NAACP
“Let us all stand together in love.”
No matter our differences, we must share this space, this state, this planet together. A moving message from Rev. Gatewood.
Reverend Doctor William Barber
President, NC NAACP
“This is our time. This our vote. This is our Selma. We will not fail.”
Rev. Barber’s voice rang out after Empower Mint was revealed. We won’t stop until power in this country is returned to the people.
Jeff Furman
Ben & Jerry’s Chairman of the Board
"We are humbled by the work of people in North Carolina, some of whose names we know and so many whose names we do not."
This Pint Has a Purpose
Well besides being delicious. A donation is being made based on a proportion of proceeds to benefit the North Carolina NAACP, an organization dedicated to ensuring the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and discrimination.
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