An investigation is underway to determine who is sponsoring anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Los Angeles and other major U.S. cities after a prominent corporation stated it has received requests for assistance.
Crowds on Demand, a California-based firm that specializes in delivering on-demand protest crowds, told Fox News Digital that it had “numerous high-budget requests” to join in the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles and other locations but rejected them.
A company spokesperson said it declined to get involved in what is happening in Los Angeles because it did “not want to get close to any form of illegal activity, including violence, vandalism or blocking off roads without a permit.”
“We receive inquiries regarding practically every major social cause imaginable, and the anti-ICE demonstrations are no exception,” the company said. “The fact that we receive requests does not mean we take them, in many cases, because the budget does not match the ambition.”
The company added it only takes on “impactful commonsense causes both for liberals and conservatives, but always represent(s) the commonsense position.”
“Even organizing peaceful demonstrators around this issue (anti-ICE) could put those demonstrators at risk due to the presence of violent agitators and the difficulty for law enforcement in distinguishing between peaceful and violent activists,” the company said.
Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, shared that the committee is sending letters to multiple organizations believed to be behind the funding.
One of the groups questioned by Hawley and Republican California Rep. Kevin Kiley is the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, an advocacy group said to be at the heart of the anti-ICE rallies in Los Angeles.
“Who is funding the LA riots? This violence isn’t spontaneous. As chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime & Terrorism, I’m launching an investigation to find out,” Hawley posted in a statement on X.
Hawley’s letter noted that “credible reporting” has indicated the organization has provided “logistical support and financial resources to individuals engaged in these disruptive actions,” referring to the Los Angeles riots.
“Let me be clear: bankrolling civil unrest is not protected speech. It is aiding and abetting criminal conduct. Accordingly, you must immediately cease and desist any further involvement in the organization, funding or promotion of these unlawful activities,” Hawley wrote.
Kiley also questioned who was supporting the riots and speculated that California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s goal may be a conflict of interest.
“The ‘nonprofit’ behind the LA riots donated almost $500,000 to support Newsom’s campaign. It then received $34 million in state funding. I’m sure this is all a coincidence,” Kiley wrote in a post on X.
Kiley also told Fox News that CHIRLA had backed a campaign to eliminate ICE.
“The NGO known as CHIRLA was centrally involved in the LA riots. The organization, which has previously sponsored a campaign to abolish ICE, alerted the rioters to where ICE operations were occurring in real time. The agitators would then show up and disrupt ICE activities, including through the use of violence,” Kiley said.
“This group is a major campaign contributor to Gavin Newsom and has received $34 million in state funding. An investigation is absolutely appropriate and necessary,” Kiley added in his remarks.
According to IRS data acquired by Fox News, CHIRLA has received $34 million in government grants, including three from former President Joe Biden’s administration for $750,000 each.
According to documents, the Million Voter Project, which got a share of these donations while opposing Newsom’s recall, has also backed anti-ICE marches.
It is unclear whether either group financed any protests, and there is no indication that they condoned riots.