Indigenous Voice to Parliament: American ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s stunning backflip
US ice cream giant Ben & Jerry’s has spoken out about the Voice to Parliament referendum, voicing its support for the Yes campaign a fortnight after the crucial vote.
The beloved ice cream brand is known for its outspoken activism and has a long history of supporting progressive causes ranging from gay rights to support for Palestine.
As polls show support for Yes’s cause melting, Ben & Jerry’s is among the companies that have publicly supported the proposed constitutional amendment.
“As a values-led company with a long history of advocating for progressive social change, Ben & Jerry’s wholeheartedly supports the Uluru Declaration from the Heart and its call for voice, treaty and truth,” the Vermont-based company said in a statement. rack.
Ben & Jerry’s has officially endorsed the ‘Yes’ vote for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked the country to cast its vote to enshrine the voice of Indigenous people and First Nations in the constitution
“We support an unequivocal ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum and see this as an important step towards self-determination and a fairer future.”
The company also stated that its commitment to reconciliation is broader than just Voice to Parliament.
“While the Vote is a critical step, the Vote cannot be the final destination – it is clear that on its own it is wholly inadequate to address the consequences of centuries of colonization, unfair policies and racism,” the statement said.
Last week, Ben & Jerry’s was accused by franchisees of not allowing stores to express support for an Indigenous voice in Parliament.
When Australians go to the polls to cast their vote to enshrine the advisory body into the constitution, they will be asked to answer the following:
A proposed law: to amend the Constitution to recognize Australia’s First Peoples by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Do you approve of this proposed change?
To pass, the referendum must secure a “double majority” – a hurdle that requires majority support across the country and majority support in at least four of the six states.
With just over two weeks until voting day, Voice proponents are far behind in published polls and sentiment against the proposal appears to be strengthening.
In 2016, Ben & Jerry’s publicly supported the yes vote in the postal survey on gay marriage and banned Australian customers from purchasing two scoops of the same ice cream flavor until gay marriage was legalized.
The US-based ice cream company has a long history of supporting progressive social causes