”After 47 years I can no longer with a clear conscience continue to be employed by Ben & Jerry’s”, writes Greenfield in a letter published on the website of the campaign ”Free Ben & Jerry’s”.
He writes further that Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced "out of fear of offending those in power.
Ben & Jerry's, has long been outspoken in social and political issues. When Unilever acquired the brand in 2000, Ben & Jerry's negotiated a detailed agreement to protect their right to express themselves, which included the establishment of an independent board to oversee the company's social mission.
In recent years, the relationship between Unilever and Ben & Jerry's and the independent board has deteriorated and the board has now sued Unilever in the USA for what it considers to be attempts to restrict its freedom.
"It is deeply disappointing to come to the conclusion that the independent position that was the basis for our sale to Unilever is now gone", writes Greenfield in the letter.
