The Foreign-Funded Machine Behind America's Iran Protests
As demonstrators took to the streets against U.S. military strikes on Iran, footage and documents traced the mobilization to a network funded by a Shanghai-based billionaire with CCP ties
Independent journalist Nate Friedman filmed two vans being loaded with stacks of professionally pre-printed signs at the People’s Forum building on 37th Street in Manhattan two hours before the February 28, 2026, anti-Iran war protest began.
Video footage captures Friedman staking out the location—a known hub for left-wing activism—before following the vehicles directly to Columbus Circle, the site of the demonstration. According to Friedman’s on-the-ground reporting, sign distributed at the protest originated from those specific vans, suggesting organized logistical preparation for the protest.
The signs loaded into the vehicles included specific branding for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), alongside Palestinian and Cuban flags, despite the event being billed as an emergency response to U.S. strikes on Iran. In the video, Friedman approached the individuals loading the materials, asking, “You guys doing this for free?” The individuals did not respond to the inquiry and continued loading megaphones, literature, and placards into the transport vehicles.
The footage appears to show protest materials being prepared at The People’s Forum before the February 28 anti-Iran-war demonstration. Separately, reporting and congressional investigators have linked The People’s Forum and allied groups to a broader protest network financed in part through entities associated with Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based former tech executive described by investigators as having longstanding ties to CCP-linked networks. The People’s Forum, where the signs originated, serves as a central operational hub for multiple activist groups funded by Singham’s network.
The Documentation Trail
IRS 990 tax forms filed by the People’s Forum reveal that key organizers receive substantial annual salaries for their activism work. Documents show David (Sung Mo) Chung, a lead organizer for New York City pro-Palestine rallies, received approximately $75,000 to protest. Friedman confronted Chung on camera regarding his salary and role; Chung responded repeatedly with “No comment.” The Jerusalem Post independently confirmed Chung’s financial ties to the organization.
Another key figure identified in the footage is Layan Fuleihan, a full-time educator and organizer at the People’s Forum. Tax filings for the People’s Forum from 2024 indicate she received compensation of $70,000 plus $8,649 in additional compensation, totaling approximately $78,649 annually. Records show Fuleihan traveled to Venezuela to attend a conference featuring Nicolás Maduro. Social media archives show she tweeted “Long live the Palestinian resistance” on October 7, 2023. Fuleihan has previously been arrested at protests and bailed out by the People’s Forum.
The Timeline Anomaly
Fox News reported an unusual mobilization timeline on February 28, raising questions about the speed and preparedness of the protest response:
2:34 AM: The ANSWER Coalition sent an emergency nationwide protest announcement.
2:44 AM: President Trump officially announced the strikes on Iran—10 minutes after the protest alert was issued.
2:52 AM: The People’s Forum issued a call for an emergency protest in Times Square.
9:09 AM: China’s Foreign Ministry released a statement using language identical to that used by the U.S. protest network.
The Funding Network
Financial records trace the funding of these operations to Neville Roy Singham, the founder of ThoughtWorks who currently resides in Shanghai. The New York Post reported that Singham has been spurring protests nationwide through a complex web of non-profits. Public reporting shows Singham donated over $20 million to the People's Forum through a donor-advised fund managed by Goldman Sachs, obscuring the original source of the capital.
Singham’s wife, Jodie Evans, co-founded the anti-war group Code Pink. Financial disclosures reveal Code Pink received more than $1.4 million from Singham-linked entities, constituting over 25% of its total budget. In February 2026, the State Department transmitted a formal report to Congress identifying Code Pink and the People's Forum as conduits for Chinese influence operations, according to reporting by the New York Post and Fox News. According to reporting by Friedman and an independent investigation by Shomrim, the ANSWER Coalition is funded via the Progress Unity Fund, which has reportedly received funding from the Tides Foundation.
The Pattern Recognition
Fox News investigative reporter Asra Nomani infiltrated the network’s Signal rapid-response chats and obtained National Park Service permits that contained scripted “run of show” documents for protests. Her investigation appeared on the network, detailing how the same organizations cycle their personnel and resources through various causes, from anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis and Los Angeles to pro-Palestine marches and pro-Maduro rallies.
According to Nomani’s analysis, the combined revenues of the network, including affiliated labor unions, exceed $2 billion. A report by Shomrim detailed the hidden hands behind these anti-war protests, noting the high level of professionalization. Separately, Crowds on Demand, a corporate crowd-rental service, reported a 400% increase in inquiries for paid demonstrators.
The Government Response
Federal authorities have begun scrutinizing the network’s activities. Senator Chuck Grassley wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging them to assess whether The People’s Forum and Code Pink should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
In September 2025, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith sent a letter demanding records from the People's Forum, as part of an ongoing committee investigation to ensure the U.S. tax-exempt sector is not abusing the lucrative federal benefits they currently enjoy or undermining U.S. national interests. The State Department subsequently transmitted a formal report to Congress in February 2026 outlining the network’s ties to foreign influence operations.
It’s taken the government too long to look into these “nonprofits.” Better do it now while Republicans are in control.