As tensions rise about who is behind the violent anti-ICE riots, a California-based company that specializes in providing on-demand crowds for protests says there are indicators to spot the difference between hired demonstrators and normal crowds.
“We receive inquiries regarding practically every major social cause imaginable, and the anti-ICE demonstrations are no exception,” Adam Swart, the CEO and founder of Crowds on Demand, told Fox News Digital. “The fact that we receive requests does not mean we take them, in many cases because the budget does not match the ambition.”
Swart added that they have received “numerous high budget requests” regarding the anti-ICE demonstrations, but declined those offers due to the fact “that they do not want to get close to any form of illegal activity, including violence, vandalism or blocking off roads without a permit.”
Swart, who started Crowds on Demand in 2012 when he was a student at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) to “change how advocacy is done,” shared how they support causes and how to spot if these protests are tied to other companies and organizations.
Swart said one way to know the difference between his crowd and those who are hired by other companies is if those “paid protest teams are kept on standby.”
“These groups deploy protesters within minutes using geolocation tools and encrypted chats,” Swart said.
He added that “only compensated activists move that fast.”
COAST-TO-COAST ANTI-ICE CHAOS CAUGHT ON CAMERA
“Now what you’re seeing from the agitators should not be logged in with the broader protest movement, and that is because there is a group of agitators who attach themselves to every cause and use that cause as an excuse to loot, to be violent, and to create disruption,” Swart said.
“They do not care about those causes, they merely care about looting and destruction. These are pirates. These are psychopaths, and their behavior should not be tolerated, and their actions should not be used to delegitimize peaceful demonstrators.”
Swart said that some of these groups have informants inside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Activist groups are (likely) receiving tipoffs about ICE raid locations, allowing them to stage protests before law enforcement even arrives,” Swart shared. “I strongly believe that there are ICE informants who are providing information to demonstrators about the locations of the raids. The reason why I believe that is that there were hundreds of demonstrators that showed up with just a few minutes’ notice at the locations of the raids. That is difficult to do,” he continued.
Swart said this is all speculation on his part, and he has no specific information on how the riots might be funded.
“While I don’t have direct information that the protesters are being paid, I strongly believe that many of the protesters are being compensated,” he explained. “How do I know this? Because when you can gather hundreds of people at the wee hours of the morning or the late hours of the night with zero notice with just a text message within a 10-minute period, that sounds a lot more like a rapid reaction force than a group of passionate demonstrators.”
Swart said to also look out for legal payouts that are “disguised as support.”
“Instead of direct cash payments, groups offer expensive legal defense packages and luxury accommodations as a workaround – compensating illegal action without ever calling it that,” Swart explained.
Swart said another giveaway is the hotel accommodations that are arranged for violent rioters.
“Expect to see protest leaders put up in boutique hotels ‘awaiting trial.’ It’s a tactic increasingly used to reward aggressive participants without raising legal red flags,” he explained.
“It is perfectly acceptable for people to express concern regarding ICE activities and regarding the Trump administration’s border policies and immigration policies, but any form of violence, blocking off streets, and vandalism is not only illegal and not only disruptive, but it actually undermines the very cause that they are seeking to promote,” Swart said.
Swart said the most important factor to determine whether these rioters are being funded is the use of tactical gear.
“Another tip that these guys are funded is the fact that they have tactical gear. Tactical gear is extremely expensive and its distribution suggests a coordinated effort,” Swart said.
“There has to be a clear separation between funding peaceful advocacy and funding violent agitation, and we need to find very quickly who is behind the violent agitation,” Swart said.
He also pointed out that potential involvement by foreign regimes or wealthy left-wing billionaires is a major concern, as this could indicate an attempt to undermine U.S. stability and institutions.
Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has launched an investigation into a left-wing organization in California, alleging it may be financially supporting the riots in Los Angeles. The Senate committee is sending out several letters to organizations under scrutiny, including the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA).
“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 said in a post on X.
The letter to CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas notes that “credible reporting” has indicated the organization might be providing “logistical support and financial resources to individuals engaged in these disruptive actions.”
“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.
CHIRLA did not respond to a request for comment.
Swart emphasized the need for swift action to identify those behind these actions, as any foreign or billionaire-backed support could pose a significant threat to national security and societal stability.
Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.