On the eve of President Trump's inauguration, a network of socialist and Islamist organizations, significantly scaled down their planned "resistance" in Washington, D.C., moving from a potential 50,000-person demonstration across major landmarks to a smaller gathering of around 2,000 at Meridian Hill Park. However, this network, which I refer to as the "Woke Army," is continuing with protests in 84 other cities, shifting their focus to support for the Palestinian people following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Despite often being portrayed as grassroots uprisings, these demonstrations are meticulously planned and funded by professional activist networks. The D.C. protest, organized by the Marxist ANSWER Coalition, showcases this orchestrated approach. My previous reporting exposed similar tactics used during the "People's March," which was managed by a for-profit protest logistics company, Movement Catalyst LLC. These groups create a facade of spontaneous activism, when in reality, these events are carefully constructed political theater.
The shift in the protest's messaging is evident in emails sent by the ANSWER Coalition, pivoting to the Israel-Gaza conflict. This coordinated messaging across various groups reveals the interconnected nature of these organizations.
My research with the Pearl Project, a nonprofit journalism initiative, has focused on tracking these organizations and their funding. Transparency is crucial for a healthy democracy, and the public should be aware of the ideological agendas driving these seemingly grassroots movements.
The ANSWER Coalition, formed after 9/11, has a history of supporting authoritarian regimes, including those in Russia, China, Venezuela, North Korea, and Cuba. Their leader, Brian Becker, is a known advocate for Marxism and socialism. Past incidents involving the group include a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that turned violent, resulting in the revocation of their permit by the National Park Service.
While the ANSWER Coalition cancelled their initial application for a larger protest, the permit obtained for the Meridian Hill event reveals a highly organized plan, including specific timelines for equipment setup, speeches, marches, and even donation collection. The equipment list itself, including a stage, tables, chairs, signs, and a sound system, further underscores the professional nature of these operations.
The growing list of endorsing groups for these protests, now over 200, exposes the network's diverse yet interconnected nature. My analysis of this list, available in a public Pearl Project database, reveals a significant number of self-described socialist organizations, Islamist, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian groups, and others aligned with these ideologies. Many of these groups share a common goal of dismantling the state of Israel.
Among the prominent groups involved are Code Pink, funded by a billionaire linked to the Chinese Communist Party; the Party for Socialism and Liberation, advocating for the overthrow of capitalism; the People’s Forum, another socialist group with ties to China; and the Democratic Socialists of America. The inclusion of groups like the "Project for a Revolutionary Marxist International" further highlights the radical ideological underpinnings of this network.
The involvement of groups like Students for Justice in Palestine, Palestinian Feminist Collective, Palestinian Youth Movement, the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, and the Muslim American Society adds another layer to this complex web of organizations, many of which are actively engaged in anti-Israel activism and protests.
While the ANSWER Coalition claims their protest is a form of resistance against the Trump administration, their true objective appears to be far more reaching: undermining American democracy and promoting authoritarian socialist ideals. As these demonstrations unfold, it's vital for Americans to recognize the well-funded and orchestrated nature of these movements and understand the potential threat they pose to democratic values.
