Every individual, company or organization has the right to spend their money any way they want. But when they are actively working against our country, our Constitution, our values, to promote a far-left socialist agenda, do we not have a moral obligation to refuse assistance? After all, when we buy their product or use their services we are providing support for the very same causes.
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation (BJF) was established in 1985 from a donation of stock worth $850,000 in the ice cream company created by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. In addition both pledged to give 7.5% of the company’s annual pretax profits to the Foundation for philanthropic purposes.
A member organization of the Peace and Security Funders Group, BJF pursues its mission of furthering social justice, protecting the environment, and supporting “sustainable food systems” by supporting nonprofit grassroots organizations designed to foster “social change.”
Today BJF awards about $1.8 million each year to organizations and administers 4 major grant programs. Among the more noteworthy organizations funded by the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation are the
- A.J. Muste Memorial Institute, named after the noted socialist, union activist, and war resister Abraham Johannes Muste, the AJ Muste Mororial Institute was founded to promote “nonviolent radical change” by “providing the movement for peace and justice with support. AJMMI has awarded grants and sponsorships to hundreds of projects around the world to “end war and expose the military-industrial complex;” oppose nuclear power; halt environmental racism; end the death penalty; curb the prison industry; defend unions and labor rights; build economic justice; fight for racial and sexual equality; fight for immigrants’ rights; and promote the use of nonviolent action.
- ACORN, widely implicated in voter-registration fraud, vote-rigging, voter intimidation, vote-for-pay scams and other illegal activities.
- Border Action Network, an advocate for the dissolution of American borders, unchecked, unregulated migration into and out of the United States, founded on the premise that North, Central, and South America were wrongfully conquered by European invaders, and that consequently the United States is, at its root, an illegitimate entity with no right to delineate borders or to impose migration restrictions on anyone.
- Global Exchange, established in 1988 by pro-Castro radical Medea Benjamin. Global Exchange defines itself as a “membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social justice, economic and environmental justice round the world.” The chief target of this groups condemnation is, of course, the U.S., its foreign policies, business practices and domestic life.
- Grassroots International defines itself as a “human rights and development organization that channels
funds to small community groups around the world that are working for peace and social justice,” born out of a commitment to justice for Palestinians. - Institute for Policy Studies, a left-wing think tank, founded in 1963 with seed money (derived from a
fortune made in perfumes and cosmetics sales under the Faberge trade name) from the Samuel Rubin Foundation. The Foundation’s namesake, Samuel Rubin was a dedicated socialist and a Communist Party USA member.
Physicians for Social Responsibility, opposes FEMA efforts to develop any type of post-nuclear war emergency plans; the Air Force’s Ground Wave Emergency Network (a military communication system intended for use during a nuclear war); American efforts to develop a missile defense system; and the development of nuclear energy facilities for non-military purposes., while providing support for ratification of the Kyoto Accord, the U.N. Global Warming scam; the banning of DDT and other pesticides; and a ban on so-called “cheap guns.”
Ruckus Society, a spin-off of Earth First, promotes “environmental, human rights, and social justice by training activists in “direct action” and “guerrilla communication” techniques for the promotion of radical agendas. They view the U.S. as a nation rife with “injustice and oppression. - The Tides Foundation, know for funding every leftist cause in America, was established to “launder” donations and then funnel it to activist organizations for those discerning donors who don’t wish to leave a paper trail. Through this legal loophole, nonprofit entities can also create for-profit organizations and then funnel money to them through Tides circumventing laws that bar nonprofits from directly funding for-profit enterprises.
- The Tides Center, an entity of the Tides Foundation, was established so that activist groups can accept tax-deductible contributions without obtaining their own 501(c)(3) public charity tax exemption. They also serve as a legal firewall to insulate the Tides Foundation from potential lawsuits filed by people whose livelihoods or well-being was harmed by Foundation funded activities.
- Union of Concerned Scientists is an environmental advocacy organization with a goal of building a “cleaner, healthier environment.” They opposes genetically engineered foods, condemn SUV vehicles, and propose measures to combat global warming. They also believe that the vast majority of US foreign policy is dangerous and call for a unilateral reduction of nuclear weapons.
Over the years, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen, helped establish the antiwar group True Majority and has personally endorsed and financially supported a number of progressive democrats, including Obama.
He has also personally supported groups such as the Progressive majority and USAction.
“On some positions, cowardice asks the question – is it expedient? And expedience asks the question – is it popular? Conscience asks the question – is it right? There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular – but one must take it because it’s right.” Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
