Ben & Jerry's has called on the US government to return "stolen indigenous land" during a divisive July 4th message.
The company, which was founded by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenwood, has posted similar messages on its website arguing that July 4 festivities and celebrations "distract from an essential truth about this nation’s birth.”
The ice cream giant posted the bold message on Twitter, writing: "The United States was founded on stolen indigenous land. This Fourth of July, let’s commit to returning it.”
Writing to its 494,000 followers on Twitter, Ben & Jerry's said they want to "start with Mount Rushmore."
Ben & Jerry's wrote: "What is the meaning of Independence Day for those whose land this country stole, those who were murdered and forced with brutal violence onto reservations, those who were pushed from their holy places and denied their freedom.”
“The faces on Mount Rushmore are the faces of men who actively worked to destroy Indigenous cultures and ways of life, to deny Indigenous people their basic rights,” the statement concluded.
The company, which has previously spoken out on social issues, has spoken publicly in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the LGBTQ+ community.
On its website, Ben & Jerry’s says its social mission is to “eliminate injustices in our communities by integrating these concerns into our day-to-day business activities.”
Their statement has received mixed response, with many calling others to boycott the brand in a similar way to Bud Light's recent advert with trans model Dylan Mulvaney.
The beer company lost more than $20billion in market value after the partnership and has struggled to recover.
According to one user, the Ben & Jerry's were now being referred to as "the Bud Light of ice cream" after their divisive post.
They tweeted: “But seriously now, close shop, or better yet, donate your business and everything you own in these lands that rightfully belong to the indigenous people, apologize to them, and return to the continent your ancestors came from. Now.”
Another user said the company is "long overdue for the Bud Light treatment" and should be boycotted for posting the message on July 4.
They tweeted: "Long overdue for the Bud Light treatment. You hate the country, fine. We won't buy your product. All good."
A user replied: "#boycottbenandjerrys for being hateful and divisive to Americans on the 4th of July.'"
Meanwhile, Kevin Dalton claimed Ben & Jerry's own factories were built technically on stolen land.
Hh said: "I look forward to the virtue signalling Ben & Jerry's returning their factory's land to the Abenaki and Mohican Native Americans that have lived in Vermont for 10,000 years."
