The co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream knew he was disturbing the peace with a noisy demonstration against fighter jets.
Ben Cohen later told the Burlington Free Press that ‘Of course’ he knew he was breaking the law, explaining ‘that’s exactly the point.’
Cohen was one of three activists arrested for disorderly conduct Saturday after blasting jet noise from a mobile public address system in Burlington, Vermont.
Ben Cohen later told the Burlington Free Press that ‘Of course’ he knew he was breaking the law, explaining ‘that’s exactly the point.’
Cohen was one of three activists arrested for disorderly conduct Saturday after blasting jet noise from a car
Police in Burlington say that Cohen was taken into custody Saturday afternoon at around 3.30pm
He said the goal was to simulate what it might be like for residents living under the flight path of Vermont National Guard F-35 fighters
Police in Burlington say that Cohen was taken into custody Saturday afternoon at around 3.30pm, according to broadcasting affiliate ABC 22.
He said the goal was to simulate what it might be like for residents living under the flight path of Vermont National Guard F-35 fighters.
He tweeted that if he violated the city noise ordinance then the fighter jets will, too.
Burlington voters will weigh in Tuesday on whether city officials should oppose F-35s at the Burlington International Airport (Pictured: Ben Cohen)
‘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.
Lieutenant Matthew Sullivan of Burlington police 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 city has just admitted that it’s illegal,harmful and dangerous,’ James Leas, one of the protesters arrested with Cohen, told ABC 22. ‘So now we have the city of Burlington acknowledging that by making these arrests.’
Burlington voters will weigh in Tuesday on whether city officials should oppose F-35s at the Burlington International Airport.
Critics say the F-35s are noisier than fighters currently used by the Vermont National Guard.
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.
The Vermont National Guard, however, has already invested $83 million dollars into the project and will likely not be compelled by initiative (Pictured: Ben Cohen, left, and Jerry Greenfield, co-founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Holdings Inc)