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Fact check: What organizations have been accused of funding protests in Los Angeles?
1. Summary of the results
Based on the analyses provided, several organizations have been accused of funding protests in Los Angeles:
Primary Organizations Under Investigation:
- Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) - This organization has received the most scrutiny, with multiple investigations launched against it. CHIRLA receives nearly $34 million annually in government grants and private donations from ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising platform [1]. The House Judiciary Committee is specifically investigating CHIRLA for potentially using federal funds to support violent criminal activity that impedes federal immigration law enforcement, noting the organization received nearly $1 million in grants under the Biden administration and around $450,000 in grants for "citizenship education and training" from the DHS between October 2021 and September 2024 [2].
- Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) - This organization is mentioned alongside CHIRLA as being involved in the protests and receives federal and California state grants, along with private funding [1].
- Party for Socialism and Liberation - This group has reported ties to the Chinese Communist Party and was also involved with the protests [1].
Government Investigations:
Multiple federal investigations are underway, including FBI investigations into the funding sources [3] [4] and an IRS investigation looking into dozens of organizations and nonprofits' funding of the protests as part of a long-term investigation [5]. Senator Josh Hawley has launched a separate investigation into CHIRLA's alleged role in financially and materially supporting violent protests [6].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The analyses reveal several important contextual elements not addressed in the original question:
Nature of the Protests:
The sources consistently refer to these as "anti-ICE protests" and "riots," with concerns about violent criminal activity rather than peaceful demonstrations [2]. This suggests the investigations focus specifically on violent aspects rather than general protest funding.
Foreign Influence Concerns:
The FBI investigation includes concerns over foreign influence and ideological donations fueling the violence [4], indicating potential international funding sources beyond domestic organizations.
Scale of Investigation:
The IRS is examining dozens of organizations, not just the named ones, suggesting a broader network of potential funding sources [5].
Political Motivations:
Organizations like CHIRLA that benefit from continued immigration advocacy and receive substantial government funding would have strong incentives to organize resistance to ICE operations. Democratic fundraising platforms like ActBlue, which provides donations to CHIRLA, would benefit from maintaining anti-enforcement narratives that drive political donations [1].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original question appears neutral in its framing, simply asking for factual information about which organizations have been accused. However, it lacks important context:
Omitted Severity: The question doesn't specify that these are investigations into funding of violent activities rather than peaceful protests, which could mislead readers about the nature of the accusations [2].
Missing Scale: The question implies a simple list when the reality involves multiple federal agencies conducting complex investigations into potential misuse of taxpayer funds and foreign influence operations [5] [4].
Incomplete Scope: By not mentioning the federal funding aspect, the question misses the significant concern that taxpayer money may have been used to fund activities that impede federal law enforcement [2].
The framing could benefit from specifying that these are active federal investigations into alleged funding of violent activities, rather than general accusations about protest funding.