The co-founder of the of ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s was placed under arrest on Saturday after violating a local noise ordinance in his home state of Vermont.
Police in Burlington say that Ben Cohen was taken into custody Saturday afternoon at around 3.30pm following a noisy public protest, according to broadcasting affiliate ABC 22.
The demonstration, which began around 11am, was intended to simulate the sound of the F-35 jet blast, said Lieutenant Matthew Sullivan of Burlington police.
The demonstration, which began around 11am and lasted to 3.30pm, was intended to simulate the sound of the F-35 jet blast
He was cited numerous times before his arrest for violating the Burlington’s city noise ordinance
Sullivan explained that amplifiers were attached to a rig and led by a vehicle Cohen was driving. He was cited numerous times before his arrest for violating the city’s noise ordinance.
‘Because it was the third violation it’s disorderly conduct by noise so they were arrested,’ Lt. Sullivan said. ‘Three protesters were arrested.’
The public display was intended to bring awareness to an upcoming ballot vote concerning the housing of F-35 Jets in the city (Pictured: Ben Cohen)
The public display was intended to bring awareness to an upcoming ballot vote concerning the housing of F-35 Jets in Burlington.
‘It’s either legal or it’s not, if it’s legal for the F-35 to make this noise 16 times per day, 52 wks a yr, for the next 50 yrs, it should b legal for us to do this limited demonstration of extreme jet blasts which are the subject of Item #6 on the March ballot,’ Cohen said in a message posted to Twitter before his arrest.
Supporters of the demonstration said arresting protesters for violating the ordinance proved their point about the jet fighters.
‘The city has just admitted that it’s illegal,harmful and dangerous,’ James Leas said. ‘So now we have the city of Burlington acknowledging that by making these arrests.’
Residents of Burlington have an opportunity on Tuesday to vote on a non-binding resolution that would ask the Air National Guard to find somewhere else to house an F-35 fighter jet base, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
The Vermont National Guard, however, has already invested $83 million dollars into the project and will likely not be compelled by initiative.
‘When the first F-35 lands here in 18 months we intend to be fully trained and equipped to receive it,’ Lt. Col. Daniel Finnegan told Vermont Public Radio over the weekend.
The issue has festered in the New England city since 2013. Burlington airport has already been the home to F-16s for years, and supporters say that the addition of the F-35s will have little impact.
Ben Cohen, left, and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Holdings Inc., talk to supporters during a mock caucus at Drips coffee shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016
