**Ben & Jerry's Sues Unilever for Alleged Censorship Following Support for Palestinian Causes**

Ben & Jerry's is taking legal action against its parent company, Unilever, claiming that it is being silenced for advocating for Palestinian refugees. The Vermont-based ice cream maker filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, arguing that Unilever has "threatened Ben & Jerry's personnel" to prevent them from speaking on issues that the parent company prefers to avoid.

In their complaint, Ben & Jerry's emphasized that their merger agreement with Unilever safeguards their ability to maintain their social mission. This mission includes vocal support for causes like migrant justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement. The conflict between the two companies became public in 2021 when Ben & Jerry's announced a decision to halt sales in Israeli-only settlements. Following this, in 2022, Unilever sold Ben & Jerry's intellectual property rights in those regions, a maneuver that the ice cream maker claims undermined their social initiatives.

Although a settlement was reached in December 2022, tensions remain high. Ben & Jerry's alleges that Unilever has interfered with their social advocacy efforts multiple times since then. The lawsuit details four separate instances where Unilever allegedly stopped Ben & Jerry's from making public statements about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Additionally, the complaint notes an incident where Unilever barred Ben & Jerry's from donating to Jewish Voices for Peace.

Ben & Jerry's contends that these actions by Unilever directly violate their agreement and contravene their long-established social mission. As the legal proceedings unfold, the iconic ice cream brand continues to push back against what it perceives as censorship by its corporate parent.