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The existence of paid protesters in specific documented cases and commercial services, but sweeping claims that most or all protesters are paid are not supported by evidence.
There is a straightforward but nuanced answer: yes—paid protesters exist in specific, documented cases and commercial services sometimes organize compensated participants—but sweeping claims that most...
Crowds on Demand is the best-documented commercial operator that organizes paid protesters and related theatrical crowds for clients across U.S. cities, a practice reported in multiple outlets and tie...
A small number of U.S. firms and campaigns have been tied to paid participation in protests, most prominently event-marketing companies such as Crowds on Demand, where reporting has relied on company ...
There is direct evidence that a small commercial industry exists offering paid crowd services — notably firms like Crowds on Demand whose founder has spoken publicly about the business — but systemati...
Crowds on Demand monetizes staged public spectacle by selling turnkey advocacy, PR stunts and “crowds for hire” — offering planning, staffing and logistics to clients who want organized demonstrations...
Reporting from the Texas Observer, D Magazine, Dallas Weekly and others presents a web of documentary and testimonial evidence tying Monty Bennett to both the Dallas Express (which he publishes) and t...
Companies that supply paid protesters, most prominently Crowds on Demand, have been the subject of media exposés and at least one high-profile civil suit alleging extortion; coverage and court filings...
Public registries maintained by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the IRS are the primary places where campaigns, PACs and 527 groups report vendors and expenditures that could reveal payments...
Publicly documented links between high‑profile political campaigns and paid crowd firms such as Crowds on Demand are sparse: public records show a payment by the Six Californias initiative campaign, w...
Crowds on Demand has marketed itself as a national provider of hired audiences for PR stunts, corporate activations and political advocacy, and reporting and public records identify a handful of high-...
Crowds on Demand recruits people through a mix of public-facing job-like outreach and private networks, and pays participants modestly—typically in the low hundreds—while marketing the service as advo...
Paid protesters working for Crowds on Demand face a mix of legal, financial, safety, and reputational risks: arrests or civil suits tied to unlawful conduct or harassment, unclear contract protections...
The U.S. market for “crowds for hire” is small but diverse: a handful of specialist firms openly sell paid attendees, actors, paparazzi and protestors while broader event-staffing and promotional agen...
Paid protest services exist and can be hired through commercial publicity firms that advertise “crowds for hire” and through general gig/temporary-staff marketplaces; the best-documented vendor in the...