A taxpayer-funded nonprofit in Chicago, Illinois, is hosting a ten-day summer camp focused on teaching tactics for protests against President Donald Trump and indulging in activities such as “queer magic” as a form of resistance.
Co-Prosperity, an affiliate of the Public Media Institute (PMI) located at its headquarters, has invited artists, activists, educators, musicians, filmmakers and others for a “Subversion Summer Camp” from July 17-27, Co-Prosperity’s website says. The camp features signs comparing the Trump administration to Nazis, a “queer rewrite of Peter Pan” and a discussion of “counterinsurgency,” according to footage of the camp on social media and an official schedule.
PMI’s event represents another example of taxpayer dollars going toward nonprofits involved in leftist political pursuits. PMI took in more than $320,000 in government grants from 2020 to 2023, according to its tax filings. The group did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
For July 19, a section of the schedule titled “Disarming Police: Protest and Direct Action Tactics” mentions instructions on “doing what you want to, with minimal interference from police.”
The camp’s schedule is replete with praise for socialism, including a July 19 event titled “Why We Need American Marxism” and another for July 24 that will explore an imaginary future where revolutionaries bring about “the death of the billionaire class.”
The itinerary also describes one July 20 lecture as centered around “histories of counterinsurgency, with a special focus on the Cold War in Latin America,” when the U.S. and Soviet communists competed for influence in the region.
The National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), a federal agency, has given the PMI $20,000 since 2020, federal spending records show. The Trump administration has previously called for abolishing the NEA, citing efforts to shrink the federal government’s bureaucracy and spending in favor of efficiency. The administration began cutting grants for the agency in May, NPR reported.
The NEA did not respond to a request for comment.
“Join us in Bridgeport, the Community of the Future (and beyond), for ten days of camaraderie, fun and resistance to the spread of fascist culture … We’ll present a broad range of creative forms of protest, and participants will be able to choose their own solidarity adventure… kickball or tag, puppets or banners, ballots or stink bombs?” PMI’s schedule for the camp says.
Signs from the event depict Trump as Adolf Hitler and his officials as Nazis and display phrases such as “no human is illegal” in reference to ongoing mass deportations, according to Instagram posts from PMI’s co-director, Edward Marszewski.
“We invite you to witness a scene from our queer rewrite of Peter Pan,” a portion of the schedule marked for July 17 says. “After the scene, we will guide you to join in spell‑casting, moving with us to weave a ritual of connection and queer magic.”
As part of its efficiency agenda, the Trump administration has worked to stop federal dollars from supporting a wealth of programs and entities promoting leftist ideology. Congress passed Trump-backed legislation defunding left-leaning public media on Friday, sending it to the president’s desk.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
