The People's Forum
 |
 | |
| Formation | 2017 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Manolo De Los Santos |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City |
Board members | Jodie Evans, Claudia De La Cruz |
| Budget | $13.6 million (2021) |
| Staff | 15 |
| Website | peoplesforum |
The People's Forum is an American nonprofit organization founded in 2017.[1] It is based in Manhattan and describes itself as a "movement incubator" which promotes social equality and economic equality across the world.[2] The organization serves as a gathering place for more than 200 left-wing groups, providing them with workspace.[3]
The People's Forum organized multiple protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Gaza war.[4] Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Jason Smith, suspected the organization of being an agent of the Chinese Communist Party in 2025 because it received funds of American businessman Neville Roy Singham, who is allegedly affiliated with the CCP.[5]
History
[edit]The People's Forum was founded in 2017[1] and is based in Manhattan. It described itself as a "movement incubator" which promotes social equality and economic equality across the world.[2] The organization was founded by Manolo De Los Santos, an activist who met with President of Venezuela Nicholas Maduro in 2021.[3]
The organization serves as a gathering place for more than 200 left-wing groups in Its Manhattan building, offering workspaces such as a conference room, theater, library and a media laboratory.[3] The organization's headquarters also houses a coffee shop called "The People's Cafe".[6] According to the People's Dispatch, The People's Forum organized solidarity campaigns with Cuba and gatherings of socialist organizers. It has provided workspaces for protest groups such as Palestinian Youth Movement and Code Pink, as well as political organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America and the Party for Socialism and Liberation.[7] The People's Forum is a member of International Peoples’ Assembly.[7]
According to The Free Press, since the founding of The People's Forum, its main donor has been American businessman Neville Roy Singham, who, together with his wife Jodie Evans, donated $20.4 million to the organization from 2017 to 2022. In 2021, The People's Forum employed 15 people and owned $13.6 million worth of assets.[6] That year, the organization acknowledged Singham's support,[8] calling him its "Marxist comrade”.[9] Jodie Evans serves on organization's board[5] along with activist Claudia De La Cruz.[10] In 2022, The People's Forum granted office space to news agency BreakThrough News and Justice and Education Fund, both backed by Singham.[11] Documents of BreakThrough News showed that it operates from the headquarters of The People's Forum.[10]
Activity
[edit]Protests
[edit]In November 2023, the organization took part in National March on Washington: Free Palestine along with ANSWER Coalition.[12][13] In March 2024, pro-Palestine protest groups held meetings in the offices The People's Forum in New York City.[2]
In March 2025, the organization held an event at New York Society for Ethical Culture, calling for the release of activist Mahmoud Khalil who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The event was hosted by Manolo De Los Santos.[14] On April 5, 2025, the organization held a memorial event in memory of the Palestinian children killed during the Gaza War, displaying 17,000 pairs of children's shoes on Pennsylvania Avenue.[15]
On January 6, 2026, The People's Forum organized protests in New York City against the detention of Nicolas Maduro.[16] One of the protests organized by The People's Forum took place near the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where protesters chanted: “No more coups, no more wars, Latin America isn't yours”.[17] On January 23, 2026, The People's Forum, together with 50501 movement and ANSWER Coalition, organized a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New York City, which was attended by thousands of people.[18] According to NewsNation, The People's Forum was one of the most prominent groups organizing anti-ICE protests in 2026.[9]
Others
[edit]The People's Forum hosts classes and seminars in its headquarters, such as "Lenin and the Path to Revolution", which expresses support to countries like China and Cuba for having “smashed the shackles of Western imperialism”, and “Healthcare Under Siege and Apartheid”, which discusses discrimination in Israel and the genocide in Gaza. One of the organization's lecturers includes Marxist historian Vijay Prashad, who is a friend of Neville Roy Singham. The People's Forum has its own bookstore, which sells various literature about communist leaders.[6] In addition, The People's Forum offers language courses, graphic design classes, and a program of art house films.[19]
Allegations and investigation
[edit]In December 2024, Representatives Bruce Westerman and Paul Gosar sent a letter to Manolo De Los Santos accusing The People's Forum of organizing violent protests and being tied to Hamas and Iran.[20] On April 15, 2025, Senator Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, accusing The People's Forum and Code Pink of being affiliated with Chinese Communist Party. Grassley said the organization should be asked to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agent Registration Act.[1][21] The People’s Forum described the accusations as a "dangerous escalation to crush dissent".[22]
In September 2025, Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Representative Jason Smith, launched an investigation into The People's Forum for allegedly being an agent of the Chinese Communist Party. Smith said that the organization is being suspected because it was financially supported by Neville Roy Singham and his wife, both allegedly affiliated with the CCP. He said the organization is abusing its tax-exempt status to spread pro-CCP propaganda. The People's Forum said the accusations are smear campaign and an attempt to "silence" the organization's work and "crush dissent".[5]
On July 21, 2026, Ways and Means Committee sent Manolo De Los Santos a subpoena demanding documents, information on donors and grant recipients of The People's Forum. It also requested information about communications between the organization and Neville Roy Singham. Jason Smith said that the information will “expose" how tax laws have been "exploited to advance the CCP’s influence operations". De Los Santos called the subpoena a “wholesale political attack on free speech".[4]
Workers union 32BJ SEIU, along with dozens of progressive groups, released a statement condemning the committee's investigation of the organization as an attack on free speech. The statement was signed by 71 groups, including New York Civil Liberties Union, Jewish Voice for Peace, NAACP Legal Defense Fund and New York City Democratic Socialists of America.[23]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Farfan, Isa (April 30, 2025). "Senate Republican Deploys Law Used in McCarthy Era Against Pro-Palestine Nonprofit". Hyperallergic.
- 1 2 3 Essa, Azad (March 13, 2024). "How a disparate group of volunteers galvanised pro-Palestine advocacy in NYC". Middle East Eye.
- 1 2 3 Smith, Stu (January 8, 2026). "Meet the Group Behind the Pro-Maduro Protests". City Journal.
- 1 2 Sundaram, Arya (July 24, 2026). "The People's Forum, NYC-based activist group, hit with House subpoena". Gothamist.
- 1 2 3 Starr, Michael (September 7, 2025). "CCP-linked anti-Israel group investigated by US committee". The Jerusalem Post.
- 1 2 3 Block, Frannie (November 14, 2023). "The American Multimillionaire Marxists Funding Pro-Palestinian Rage". The Free Press. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023.
- 1 2 "Socialist "movement incubator" celebrates five year anniversary in the heart of NYC". Peoples Dispatch. September 11, 2023.
- ↑ Tress, Luke (July 21, 2025). "Report links US anti-Israel groups to Beijing-backed network aiding China". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909.
- 1 2 McHugh, Rich; Leavitt, Dana (January 30, 2026). "Congress investigates billionaire's alleged funding of anti-ICE protests". NewsNation.
- 1 2 Bredderman, William (May 28, 2023). "U.S Tech Mogul Bankrolls Pro-Russia, Pro-China News Network". The Daily Beast.
- ↑ Kaminsky, Gabe (December 14, 2023). "CCP-allied charity behind anti-Israel protests sees donations skyrocket by millions". Denver Gazette.
- ↑ Rogers, Winston (November 4, 2023). "Thousands call for Gaza ceasefire during march, rally in Freedom Plaza". WJLA.
- ↑ El-Bawab, Nadine (November 5, 2023). "Thousands of protesters gather in DC to call for a cease-fire in Gaza". ABC News.
- ↑ Changrani-Rastogi, Anamika (March 25, 2025). "Hundreds gather for People's Forum event in support of Mahmoud Khalil, SIPA '24". Columbia Daily Spectator.
- ↑ Farfan, Isa (April 7, 2025). "17,000 Children's Shoes Line Pennsylvania Avenue in Moving Gaza Memorial". Hyperallergic.
- ↑ Papuckoski, Spiro (January 6, 2026). "Group with alleged China ties organized protests against Nicolas Maduro's detention in New York City". Toronto Sun – via Yahoo News.
- ↑ Adeosun, Adeola (January 14, 2026). "Protesters gather at Brooklyn jail ahead of Maduro court appearance". Newsweek.
- ↑ Kennell, Krista (January 23, 2026). "Anti-ICE NYC Protest In Solidarity With Minneapolis". Reuters Connect.
- ↑ Serina, Marina (October 18, 2025). "New York, The People's Forum, and the Hope of a New World". Pressenza.
- ↑ "Legislators confront People's Forum for 'well-documented connections to Hamas and Iran'". Jerusalem News Syndicate. December 10, 2024.
- ↑ Jenkins, Mike (April 18, 2025). "Grassley Urges DOJ To Investigate The People's Forum, Code Pink Over Alleged China Ties". Tampa Free Press.
- ↑ "The People's Forum condemns right-wing attempts to silence dissent and solidarity with Palestine". Peoples Dispatch. April 22, 2025.
- ↑ Sterne, Peter (August 6, 2026). "Progressive groups decry House's investigation into NYC leftist org". City & State.