Senator Ed Markey spoke at Gracie’s Ice Cream’s fundraiser as part of the Ice Cream for Change’s campaign. — Photo courtesy of the Ed Markey campaign

By Shira Laucharoen     

When Aaron Cohen, owner of Gracie’s Ice Cream, heard through Instagram that Ice Cream for Change, a platform for ice cream lovers and makers advocating for social justice, would be a holding a fundraiser on July 19, he knew he had to participate. The campaign, held on National Ice Cream Day, would be using the power of ice cream to address systemic racism experienced by Black people, with funds being donated to organizations leading the fight.

Cohen had reached out to the Ed Markey campaign and arranged for the senator to speak with and greet customers at the event. The shop created a new flavor, Green New Deal With It Mint Chip, which was colored green, rather than keeping it their traditional white shade. With a line leading outside of the Union Square ice cream parlor, they rapidly sold out of the pints they had been peddling and switched to cones.

“The Ed Markey flavor was what I had planned to do for the fundraiser. I added another batch, and that sold out so quickly that I ended up just selling all of our ice cream for the next couple of hours,” said Cohen. “The line for donations went until 6:00, and the last donation came in at 5:55 p.m.”

Gracie’s Ice Cream raised $3,450 over the weekend and began selling decorative labels over Twitter, earning an extra $743. Cohen said that the money raised would most likely be donated to the organization Black Lives Matter Boston. He added that Gracie’s Ice Cream is an antiracist shop and has taken an active position in fighting systemic oppression, making the Ice Cream for Change fundraiser a perfect match for it.

Tipping Cow, a Black owned ice cream shop in Winter Hill, also participated in the fundraiser. Owner David Lindsey said that they had decided to donate twenty-five percent of sales for that day, raising $2,000 total and contributing $500 for the cause. The funds went to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit that aims to end mass incarceration and racial inequality. On the day of the fundraiser, a total of approximately 300 people ended up standing in a line leading down the street, eager to buy a cold treat that would play a part in social change. They sold both pints and cups, with favorite flavors being key lime pie and triple chocolate.

“I felt that this was already something that was near and dear to my heart, to help people in general, but when we were approached to participate, it was essentially a no brainer,” said Lindsey. “Why not help eradicate something, to help everyone, help people who are subjected to racism and then help people gain clarity on how to step away from how they may contribute to racism as well?”

Lindsey said that Tipping Cow is a shop that has zero tolerance for racism, where customers are treated with respect. The store is also allergy friendly and maintains careful attention to detail, he said.

“When people come, they feel like it’s a safe space for everyone,” said Lindsey. “We’re a Black owned business, where everyone is welcome.”

Cohen said that it has been his intention for Gracie’s Ice Cream to be able to take a stance on social and political issues and that he hopes other restaurants will do the same.

“The ice cream culture in Boston is so great and is the perfect platform for this type of activism,” said Cohen. “I have to use the Gracie’s platform. What choice do I have? I can’t have this business that people love and have people wondering where we stand on stuff.”