Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the STOP FUNDERs Act, a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the funding and coordination of violent demonstrations and antisemitic activities in the United States. The bill, officially titled the Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (STOP FUNDERs) Act, seeks to empower the Department of Justice to use the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act as a tool to hold accountable those who finance or direct unlawful riots and protests. Cruz argues that such actions threaten national security and the rule of law.
Cruz, a Republican senator from Texas, has cited recent events as justification for the legislation, including the violent protests in Los Angeles following President Trump’s border security initiatives and a significant rise in assaults on ICE officers. He maintains that while peaceful assembly is a constitutional right, the use of violence to subvert public order is not acceptable. The proposal would enable the DOJ to initiate RICO charges, potentially leading to asset seizures and enhanced penalties for individuals or groups found to be funding or directing violent demonstrations.
Recent developments highlight the urgency of the issue, with the Department of Homeland Security reporting an 83,000% increase in attacks on ICE officers. Antisemitic incidents on college campuses have also surged, with the Anti-Defamation League noting a 628% rise in anti-Israel incidents over the past year. These events, Cruz suggests, are supported by a network of domestic NGOs and foreign adversaries, including those allegedly linked to the Chinese Communist Party. The House Oversight Committee has recently launched an investigation into the funding behind these protests, particularly scrutinizing billionaire Neville Roy Singham, a Chinese-based businessman linked to the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Singham denies the allegations, asserting that the New York Times has misrepresented his role and that he is committed to press freedom. The legislation is now set to move through Congress, with cosponsors including prominent Republican senators from various states. If passed, the STOP FUNDERs Act could mark a significant shift in the legal framework for addressing domestic extremism and unlawful protest activities.