Ben & Jerry's attacks Fourth of July: "The U.S. was founded on stolen Indigenous land"

"Ah, the Fourth of July. Who doesn't love a good parade, some tasty barbecue, and a stirring fireworks display? The only problem with all that, though, is that it can distract from an essential truth about this nation’s birth: The US was founded on stolen Indigenous land. This year, let’s commit to returning it." This is how Ben & Jerry's celebrated Independence Day 2023, with a controversial statement that attacked the nation instead of properly celebrating the most important day of the year.

This 4th of July, it's high time we recognize that the US exists on stolen Indigenous land and commit to returning it. Learn more and take action now: https://t.co/45smaBmORH pic.twitter.com/a6qp7LXUAE

— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) July 4, 2023

In the message, the ice cream brand called for the return of land, beginning with Mount Rushmore, deliberately lambasting George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln, the four presidents depicted on the monument:

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.

Reactions to Ben & Jerry's anti-patriotism

Criticism for the controversial message did not take long to arrive. Many users on Twitter called on Ben & Jerry's to donate its profits or the land where it has its factories to indigenous peoples. They even pointed out that their properties are in locations stolen from the affected tribes:

Your factory is on stolen land.

Native Americans, primarily from the Abenaki tribe, have lived in Vermont for 10,000 years. In 1609, French explorer Samuel de Champlain was the first European to set foot in Vermont.

— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) July 5, 2023

I would absolutely love to see Ben & Jerry's go bankrupt. Their ice cream sucks anyway.

— Mr Reagan 🇺🇸 (@MrReaganUSA) July 4, 2023

Ok this should be easy then. Shut down and donate all of your land, facilities, and assets to indigenous people.

— Nathan Carlson 🌱 (@mrnathancarlson) July 4, 2023