A new report by George Washington University’s Program on Extremism has revealed a wide-reaching network of U.S. protest groups that appear to be backed by entities with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The study, authored by retired FBI agent Jennifer Baker, concludes that some of the most active anti-Israel groups in the United States are receiving ideological, logistical, media, and financial support from a network centered around Neville Roy Singham, a wealthy American tech entrepreneur now living in China.
While many Americans may see these protests as grassroots activism driven by outrage over the war in Gaza, the infrastructure supporting them appears to reflect a deeper strategic objective. The report, titled CCP Influence in U.S. Pro-Palestinian Activism, claims that the CCP is using aligned activist networks to project American weakness abroad, increase division at home, and boost China’s global image as a peace-seeking power.
“At its core, Beijing’s involvement is about power and positioning,” the report says. “Using domestic dissent in the U.S. to project weakness abroad, while casting China as a principled champion of peace and justice.”
The report argues that the CCP benefits from these movements by stoking unrest in the United States, aligning itself with anti-U.S. and anti-Israel messages, and presenting itself as a defender of oppressed peoples in the Global South.
The Role of Neville Roy Singham
Neville Roy Singham is described as the central figure behind this network. A self-described socialist and longtime admirer of China’s political system, Singham sold his tech company ThoughtWorks in 2017 for $785 million and moved to Shanghai. Since then, he has reportedly financed a network of nonprofit organizations, activist groups, and media outlets that promote narratives favorable to the CCP.
According to The New York Times, “Singham works closely with the Chinese government media machine and is financing its propaganda worldwide.” Singham has partnered with Chinese propaganda offices and attended CCP-sponsored workshops. He once served as a strategic adviser to Huawei, a Chinese telecom company later designated a national security threat by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, is co-founder of the anti-war group CodePink. She co-authored a book titled China Is Not Our Enemy and is active in promoting pro-China and anti-Israel messages. CodePink denies receiving money from the CCP, but critics have called for the group to be investigated under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
Key Protest Organizations Backed by the Network
The People’s Forum
The People’s Forum, based in New York City, describes itself as a “movement incubator” for the working class. It has openly acknowledged support from Singham. In 2021, the group posted online that it received funding from Singham, calling him “a Marxist comrade who sold his company and donated most of his wealth to nonprofits that focus on political education, culture and internationalism.”
Between 2017 and 2022, the Forum reportedly received over $20 million through the Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund. The group’s revenue grew from $487,000 in 2021 to over $4 million in 2022. In December 2023, the Forum organized a “March for the Martyrs” rally and praised figures like Leila Khaled, a member of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
ANSWER Coalition
Founded shortly after the September 11 attacks, the ANSWER Coalition is one of the most visible pro-Palestinian protest organizers in the U.S. It played a major role in the November 4, 2023, rally in Washington, D.C., following Hamas’s invasion of Israel.
ANSWER is financially supported by the Progress Unity Fund, which also backs groups promoting closer ties with China. ANSWER’s leadership is involved in efforts like “Pivot to Peace” and “No Cold War,” which promote anti-U.S. and pro-China messaging. The coalition co-sponsored events like “For a Peaceful Pacific,” which featured content aligned with Chinese foreign policy goals.
International Peoples’ Assembly
The IPA is a transnational alliance of leftist organizations. It works closely with the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, which has ties to Chinese government institutions. The IPA has hosted events featuring PFLP members and supports messaging that blames the U.S. and Israel for global unrest.
Shut It Down for Palestine (SID4P)
Launched after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, SID4P is a protest campaign coordinated by the People’s Forum, ANSWER Coalition, and IPA. Its demands include walkouts, sit-ins, and protests outside Israeli embassies and defense contractors.
The report says that “these groups benefit from funding and messaging consistent with China’s global strategy, promoting itself as a defender of justice while weakening U.S. influence.”
The Financial Web
The network’s funding is hard to trace due to the use of anonymous donor-advised funds. However, the Justice and Education Fund and the United Community Fund are named as key financial hubs. These entities have funneled millions of dollars to activist groups and media outlets.
BreakThrough News, a media company operating from the People’s Forum building, is another component of the network. It received over $700,000 from affiliated nonprofits. After the Hamas attacks, BreakThrough shifted its focus from U.S.-China issues to coverage of the Gaza conflict, leading to a rapid increase in viewership. The report states that this change helped “dominate online narratives and enhance movement visibility.”
Lawmakers in Congress have raised alarm bells. In July 2024, Senators Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio sent a letter to the Department of Justice urging an investigation into Singham’s activities. They accused him of financing radical, antisemitic groups and violating FARA.
The House Oversight Committee also demanded that Singham produce documents on his funding and activities. Representative Anna Paulina Luna said Singham was “hiding” from the investigation.
Former ambassador Marc Ginsberg, who leads the Coalition for a Safer Web, called for a full crackdown on the network. He warned that foreign-funded protests pose a danger to American institutions and foreign policy.
The Role of Chinese Media and Messaging
The CCP’s state-run media have taken advantage of the Israel-Hamas war to attack the U.S. and Israel while avoiding criticism of Hamas. In one case, Chinese Central Television aired a segment claiming that “Jews, who represent 3 percent of the U.S. population, control 70 percent of its wealth,” promoting an antisemitic trope long associated with hate groups.
China’s broader strategy is to portray itself as a friend to Arab and Muslim nations while distancing the U.S. from the Global South. According to The Brookings Institution, this approach allows China to expand its influence in Africa, Asia, and Latin America by supporting movements that align with its anti-Western message.
Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute, said in an interview that China’s long-term strategy is to divide the United States from within. “They believe that internal conflict saps the United States of its energy to be able to operate internationally,” he said.
Gordon Chang cited in the report, warned that platforms like TikTok are being used to push pro-Hamas content to young Americans. “It is an act of war,” he said, describing efforts by CCP-aligned networks to influence American protests and political debates.
The report offers a detailed and well-sourced look at how China is using figures like Neville Roy Singham and his network of nonprofits and media platforms to influence American discourse on Israel and Gaza. It claims that these groups are not simply protesting for peace but are being used as “versatile tools” by a foreign power to weaken U.S. alliances and credibility.
As the war in Gaza continues to stir protests around the world, questions remain about who is truly driving the message behind the signs and slogans. While many protestors may believe they are standing for justice, the infrastructure supporting their cause may have deeper roots in global power struggles that go far beyond the Middle East.
ACZ Editor: This is a more detailed investigated of something we already knew. China is funding protests and unrest in America. This along with many other activities are destabilizing efforts, designed to weaking America over time, and reduce the influence of the U.S. government around the world. It is an act of war.