Ben Cohen talks about #BlackLivesMatter at the Ben & Je… — Transcript

[Music] On July 17th, Eric Garner, a young unarmed black man, was killed by a police chokehold in New York City. On August 5th, John Crawford, a black 22-year-old in an Ohio Walmart, was killed by police while holding a pellet gun, a toy that he had legally picked up off the shelf. On August 9th, Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old black man, was shot and killed by police in Ferguson. On November 22nd, Tamir Rice, a black 12-year-old boy, was killed by police for playing with a toy gun in a Cleveland park. On December 14th, Cleveland Brown's wide receiver Andrew Hawkins wore a shirt calling attention to two of those police shootings before an NFL football game. The next day, Jeff Fman, the president of the police patrolman union in Cleveland, issued the following statement: "It's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law. They should stick to what they know best on the field. The Cleveland police protect and serve the Browns stadium, and the Browns organization owes an apology." Here's the response from Andrew Hawkins: I was taught that justice is a right that every American should have, and also justice should be the goal of every American. I think that's what makes this country special. To me, justice means that the innocent should be found innocent. It means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment. Ultimately, it means fair

legally picked up off the shelf on August 9th Michael Brown an unarmed 18-year-old black man was shot and killed by police in Ferguson on November 22nd Tamir rice a black 12-year-old boy was killed by police for playing with a toy gun in a

Cleveland Park on December 14th Cleveland Brown's wide receiver Andrew Hawkins wore a shirt calling attention to two of those police shootings before an NFL football game the next day Jeff fman the president of the police patrolman Union in Cleveland issued the

following statement it's pretty pathetic when athletes think they know the law they should stick to what they know best on the field the Cleveland Police protect and serve the Browns stadium and the Browns organization owes an apology here's the

response from Andrew Hawkins I was taught that uh justice is you know a right that every American should have and um also it justice is a should be the goal of every American you know I think that's what makes this country

special you know and to me Justice means that the innocent should be found innocent it means that those who do wrong should get their due punishment um ultimately it means fair treatment so a call for justice shouldn't offend or disrespect

anybody um a call for justice shouldn't warrant an apology to clarify I utterly respect and appreciate um every police officer that protects and serves all of us um with honesty integrity and the right way you know and I don't think those

kind of officers should be offended by what I did um my mom has taught me my entire life to respect law enforcement I have family close friends who are incredible police officers my wearing of the T-shirt was a stance

against wrong individuals doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons to innocent people I understood there was going to be backlash and that scared me honestly you know but deep down I felt like it was the right thing to do if I

was the Run away from what I felt in my soul was the right thing to do that would make me a coward and I can't live with that like I said I made the conscious decision to wear the

T-shirt I felt like my heart was in the right place I'm at peace with it those who support me I appreciate your support but at the same time support the causes and the people and the injustices that you feel

strongly about um stand up for him speak up for him matter what it is because that's what America is about and that's what this country was founded on thank you guys these are not isolated incidents the NAACP legal defense fund

reports that since 1999 there have been 76 unarmed black and brown people that have been killed by the police Katrina vandenhul a columnist for the Washington Post writes against entrenched Injustice it takes a movement independent Leaders with moral

Vision courageous citizens sick and tired of being sick and tired to make America better look to movements not presidents people in motion not legislators in session I have a friend jod Evans she went down to Ferguson to see

what she could do to help and I told her I was going to be speaking here at this meeting to the Ben anderes community and I asked her what we could do she said to support hands up United

the grassroot group that grew out of the events in Ferguson and is working to end police oppression and to help young black and brown people learn to read and learn web technology and work together so here's your opportunity to help them by displaying

and selling this t-shirt in your shops you know some people might say oh we can't do that we can't sell shirts like that in our shop it's controversial but isn't that exactly the point if it weren't controversial we wouldn't need to do it

at some point we've got to ask ourselves what do we stand for whose side are you on what would Ben and Jerry do at the original shop in the old gas station we'd sell the shirt and do it

with pride you know I think there will probably always be Injustice and we are outraged and saddened by it but it's in the act of working to end Injustice that we find our hearts our souls and our joy

[Applause]