Several protesters were arrested on Wednesday during a Senate Health Committee hearing featuring Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The disruption occurred as Kennedy began his opening statement, with protesters shouting accusations and holding signs that labeled him as "anti-vaccine" and claimed, "RFK Lies, People with AIDS Die."
Among those arrested was Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. While the specific reasons for his protest were not clear, the scene quickly escalated. Video footage captured the moment when protesters interrupted Kennedy, with some yelling, "RFK kills people with hate!" Capitol Police were called in to remove the protesters, using force in some instances.
Cohen was charged with obstruction, and authorities reported that six others were also arrested during the incident. The protests seemed to reflect broader concerns about Kennedy’s views on vaccines and public health.
During the hearing, Kennedy defended cuts made to the HHS budget and criticized Democrats for what he called the politicization of health issues. He argued that the department was disorganized when he took over and highlighted that many offices under HHS were redundant. He pointed out that while some offices were consolidated, funding for health initiatives remained intact.
Kennedy engaged in a heated exchange with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who accused him of endangering public health. In response, Kennedy emphasized the need for cooperation across party lines to improve children’s health in the country. He stated, "There’s no such thing as Republican children or Democrat children. There’s just kids, and we should all be concerned with them."
The hearing was marked by tension, both from the protesters and the political exchanges. Kennedy’s testimony and the surrounding chaos highlighted the deep divisions in health policy and public perception.
