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Co-founders of Ben & Jerry's arrested at Capitol

Story highlights
  • The Ben & Jerry's co-founders were arrested at the U.S. Capitol
  • The pair is pushing for campaign finance changes

(CNN) The co-founders of Ben & Jerry's ice cream were arrested at the U.S. Capitol on Monday.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were among approximately 300 people arrested as part of the "Democracy Awakening" protests that converged on the nation's capital this weekend.

"Democracy Awakening," which is closely aligned with the "Democracy Spring" protests earlier this month, mobilized protesters April 16-18 to "protect voting rights, get big money out of politics and demand a fair hearing and an up or down vote on President Obama's Supreme Court nominee," its website said.

READ: Ben & Jerry's co-founder creates ice cream in honor of Sanders

They are protesting for action on climate change, racial justice, workers' rights and fair pay, safe food and water, health care, peace, immigration reform and improvements in education, according to the website. They believe that voters aren't included in the political process and that Congress has failed to act.

Ben & Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen was among approximately 300 people arrested as part of the Democracy Awakening protests that converged on the nation's capital Monday, April 18, 2016.

Neither "Democracy Spring" nor "Democracy Awakening" is affiliated with a particular party or candidate.

READ: Hundreds of 'Democracy Spring' protesters arrested at Capitol Hill sit-in

A statement from the U.S. Capitol Police said the protestors were arrested for unlawful demonstration activities. They were processed on the scene and released, the statement said.

CNN has reached out to Ben & Jerry's for comment, but it has been tweeting photos about the arrest and created a page that explains its side why the co-founders were arrested.

Both Ben & Jerry's co-founders have been active about political issues -- particularly Cohen, who has been vocal about his support for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election.

Their ice cream company is based in Vermont, and Cohen personally endorsed Sanders and participated in the launch of his presidential bid in Burlington.

Cohen also created 40 pints of the ice cream in his own kitchen in honor of Sanders.

He told CNN's Carol Costello last October that Sanders' ice cream would be mint flavored and topped with a giant chocolate chip that "represents all the wealth that's gone to the top 1% of the population over the past 10 years."

"And the way you eat it is that you whack it with your spoon, then you mix it around. That's the 'Bernie's Yearning,'" Cohen said.

On Tuesday, the pair of ice cream moguls plan to campaign for Sanders in Delaware. They will hand out free ice cream at the event, according to a Delaware for Bernie Facebook page.

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