Singham-Funded Activists Stage Protests Ahead of Trump-Xi Talks Amid Scrutiny
By Andrew Powell (/journals/andrew-powell)
A network of activist organizations funded by tech billionaire Neville Roy Singham is staging protests in Austin and New York as President Donald Trump prepares for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Fox News, the demonstrations have drawn scrutiny from lawmakers, who are questioning the funding behind groups that publicly present themselves as grassroots organizations. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., said Americans deserve greater transparency about the activities and financing involved. Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Mich., chairman of the House Select Committee on China, similarly questioned whether the organizations’ grassroots image reflects their financial structure. He described the activity as “AstroTurf” and said it raises concerns about foreign influence when groups publicly advocate positions that conflict with U.S. interests. Singham’s financial support has become a central part of the scrutiny. Fox News Digital reported that he has directed roughly $285 million through a network of six major nonprofits, media organizations and activist groups since 2017, including CodePink, the People’s Forum and BreakThrough BT Media. The Justice Department is also examining Singham’s financial network. A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York is investigating alleged financial crimes involving Singham and organizations he funded, according to Fox News Digital reporting. Singham has not been charged, and the investigation does not establish that he personally directed individual protests. The latest series of demonstrations began in Austin following the shooting of Venezuelan national Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez during an ICE pursuit. The Democratic Socialists of America, Freedom Road Socialist Organization and Party for Socialism and Liberation promoted calls for protesters to gather, with some groups describing the demonstrations as spontaneous. The activity then shifted to New York, where CodePink co-founder Jodie Evans led demonstrations connected to Climate Week and the United Nations. Protesters also gathered outside OpenAI’s offices to oppose AI data centers, linking them to military and economic concerns. The People’s Forum, another organization that received substantial funding from Singham, has served as a venue for events connected to the network. BreakThrough News has also published video coverage of the Austin demonstrations. Additional demonstrations are planned in New York during Xi’s visit, including protests focused on Israel and U.S. foreign policy. Organizers have also scheduled further demonstrations in Austin later in the week. Singham and the organizations named in the investigation have faced growing congressional and federal scrutiny over their funding and foreign ties. The organizations have not been charged with crimes, and the available reporting does not establish that the protests are directed by the Chinese government.