The New York Post is reporting that recent anti-ICE protests—particularly in Minnesota—appear as spontaneous grassroots movements but are allegedly backed by significant funding from left-wing megadonors and networks, including some with foreign ties.
- A large “ICE Out” march in Minneapolis drew an estimated 15,000 activists, demanding an end to federal immigration enforcement. It was organized under the 50501 network (“fifty states, fifty protests, one day”), a decentralized group founded anonymously on Reddit (by user u/Evolved_Fungi) shortly after Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. The network has coordinated 11 mass demonstrations in the past year, often responding rapidly to Trump administration actions.
- Experts cited (e.g., Scott Walter of Capital Research) claim these efforts are not organic but funded through “dark money” channels. Funding allegedly blends extreme communist groups with mainstream progressive entities like unions (e.g., American Federation of Teachers) and foundations, marking a shift where radical elements operate openly alongside them.
- Named donors and networks include:
- Neville Singham (a Shanghai-based former software executive, accused of ties to Chinese Communist Party propaganda): His network (including groups like The People’s Forum and Party for Socialism and Liberation) is described as particularly active and “crazy” in Minnesota protests.
- George Soros via Open Society Foundations (funding groups like Indivisible).
- Hansjörg Wyss (Swiss billionaire): His groups reportedly funneled $293.6 million to anti-Trump demonstration organizations nationwide (per prior Post analysis); specific grants include millions to Sunrise Movement and Indivisible.
- Ford Foundation: Provided $100,000 to Voices of Florida and supports related efforts.
- Arabella network (progressive DC-based): Grants to groups like Sunrise Movement ($2M+ since 2016), Indivisible ($107,000), and Minnesota entities (contributing to ~$1M in assets for Tending the Soil Minnesota in 2023).
- Other funders: Amalgamated Charitable Foundation, McKnight Foundation.
- The article suggests that coordination via obscure, layered nonprofits makes tracing difficult. Protests focus selectively on “anti-Western” causes (e.g., no overlap with pro-Palestinian actions or protests over issues like Iran), implying orchestration rather than broad organic outrage.
The Post positions this as part of ongoing “dark money” patterns in left-wing activism, amid heightened U.S. immigration enforcement under the Trump administration (including ICE operations in Minnesota that sparked protests and related incidents like shootings). The story draws on tax filings, Capital Research analysis, and congressional scrutiny.
For more, see the NY Post.