Anti-ICE Protests: A Deeper Look at Funding Sources
Recent anti-ICE demonstrations in Minnesota and beyond might appear grassroots at first glance. However, an expert on “dark finance” suggests these rallies might be financially backed by wealthy left-wing donors.
Around 15,000 protesters gathered for an “ICE Out” event in Minneapolis on Friday. Many were heard chanting “ICE out now,” calling for an end to immigration enforcement within the city.
There seems to be an organized effort behind these protests, as indicated by insights from Scott Walter, who is the president of Capital Research and has studied these “dark money” groups. He mentioned, “My team’s best judgment is that the most active one is the Neville Singham network,” describing it as, well, rather extreme. Yet, they’re not operating alone.
Walter pointed out the People’s Forum and the Party for Socialism and Liberation as two groups that receive funding from Singham, a former software executive now based in China. Both of these groups played a role in promoting the “ICE Out” protests, which were organized by another coalition named 50501 via social media.
“What’s concerning is the rise of extremely radical groups aligned with established entities like the American Federation of Teachers and the Ford Foundation,” he added. This shift raises alarms for those who value stability in these circles. Traditionally, these groups wouldn’t publicly associate so closely with such extreme viewpoints.
“It seems like there’s a dwindling self-regulation among left-leaning groups,” Walter continued.
Singham is reportedly a significant financial supporter of various left-wing activist networks. “They collaborate through a complex web of connections,” Walter noted. While the typical protester may have a blurred understanding of who Singham is, they likely connect with other adjacent groups. It’s a shifting landscape, with many organizations rebranding frequently.
Members of Congress, including those from the House Oversight Committee, are probing into whether Singham’s contributions indicate foreign influence, particularly if his funding runs afoul of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
