Latest news with #AdamSwart
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Like everything else, protests in the US are a business
It should come as no surprise, but the next time you see a protest popping up in cities across America, there is a chance it was not as spontaneous and homegrown as once expected. In fact, many of the young, rebellious faces in the crowd are paid actors content to earn a paycheck on behalf of very wealthy individuals who are committed to artificially manipulating the US political system. Enter Adam Swart, the CEO and founder of Crowds on Demand (CoD), whose website details a long list of services it provides to give any political movement the booster rockets it needs to get off the ground. 'If you need to hire protesters, we can get a crowd on the street, sometimes within 24 hours time. If you need speakers to present at a council meeting, we can provide talented and well-spoken individuals to advocate for the cause. We also have a dedicated team of phone-banking staff who can call Congressional Offices and convince government officials to support your cause and help you overcome opposition. If you need lots of letters and emails written from constituents, we have a network of tens of thousands of individuals across the country who can send well-written constituent letters to their representatives…' 'We are the ultimate guerilla lobbying and government relations firm,' the website boldly declares. Swart was forthcoming with the information that his publicity firm was offered a lucrative contract to assist in a Democrat-backed astroturfing effort. 'Interests aligned with the organizers of the July 17th movement have approached us and, in fact, we rejected an offer that probably is worth around $20 million dollars,' Swart admitted to NewsNation's Brian Entin in an interview. On July 17th, protests took place around the country against the Trump administration, organized by Good Trouble Lives On, a left-wing progressive organization. July 17th was the fifth anniversary of the death of former Democratic Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights leader who referred to protests as 'good trouble.' So why did Swart reject the multi-million dollar offer to host the July 17th event? After all, some Trump supporters suspect that CoD played a prominent role in the highly successful 'No Kings Day' protests, which were said to have attracted more than five million people in more than 2,100 cities and towns, possibly the largest single-day demonstration in American history. Right-wingers have insisted that the numbers turning out to oppose Trump are routinely bolstered by hired operatives supplied by Swart's company. While CoD denies any involvement in No Kings, for example, just the idea that a publicity firm could legally exist as a driving force to any protest movement is extremely unsettling (determining exactly what groups CoD supports is very difficult as employees are forced to sign non-disclosure forms that protect the client's anonymity). With regards to the 'Good Trouble Lives On' protest, Swart admits turning down the offer because the demonstrations would 'make us all look bad' as 1,500 events planned across country had the potential to 'turn violent.' The CEO said he does not activate any activists-for-hire if 'it involves illegal activity… we do not engage in any form of illegal activity – of course, no violence, no vandalism, and no blocking streets without a permit.' While Swart must be applauded for turning down a fortune for keeping the US political process transparent and safe, there are other big-league players who do not operate by such a moral compass. Consider George Soros and his Open Society Foundation for one. Last summer, at the height of anti-Israel protests on university campuses, US lawyer Alan Dershowitz told Fox News that organizations funded by the billionaire philanthropist and others helped finance the movements. 'There's no question that there are organizations funded by George Soros and the Rockefeller Brothers. Take for example 'Jewish Voice for Peace,'' Dershowitz said. 'It has been behind many of these demonstrations. They're not Jewish and they don't want peace. It's a fake organization. It's an old-line group of communists and anarchists that want to overthrow the United States government… These organizations are funded by Soros and other organizations that help turn these useful idiots into protesters and eventually into terrorists.' Getting back to the Democrats, the very act of astroturfing the US political system strongly suggests that Trump's MAGA presents a clear and present danger to the liberals. The Democrats have reached the point where they are practically forced to pay people a minimum wage check to mobilize against Donald Trump. Nothing screams a party in disorder more than one that obviously lacks grassroots support and is forced to rig the political system.
Russia Today
4 days ago
- Business
- Russia Today
Rent-a-crowd CEO lifts lid on US protest industry's ‘dirty secrets'
Political protests in the US are rarely acts of pure conviction, according to Adam Swart, CEO of a prominent publicity firm that supplies paid demonstrators for political and corporate events. Swart, who founded Crowds on Demand in 2012, revealed what was described as the 'dirty secrets' of his profession in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday. His company recruits and manages individuals who appear at rallies, protests, and public events on behalf of paying clients. Swart argued that compensating activists is not unethical. He said the service allows people to engage in causes they support but might not otherwise be able to attend. 'All activism is what I call incentivized activism,' he said. 'We compensate people for having their views known, but most people who attend demonstrations have some reason for being there other than the so-called purity of their beliefs.' Swart offered examples to bolster his claim, including the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. 'How many real housewives went out to protest for [the Black Lives Matter campaign] in the summer of 2020?' he said. 'Do you think it's because they cared about institutional racism? Or do you think it's to flex on social media?' He added that labor unions sometimes pressure members to attend demonstrations, with threats of less favorable work shifts, and political aides are often expected to take part in campaign events during their personal time. Paid demonstrators typically earn several hundred dollars per day, according to Swart. Nationwide publicity campaigns, he said, can cost millions. He noted that he recently turned down a $20 million offer from political interests opposed to US President Donald Trump. Swart emphasized that his rejection of the offer was not driven by ideology but by concerns that the campaign's likely failure would damage his firm's reputation. 'The problem is that these are the same consultant class who propped up [former US President Joe] Biden, who propped up [former Vice President] Kamala Harris, who fundamentally failed so miserably in the 2024 election, and who have failed every single day since then in reigning in Trump's agenda,' he said.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Advocacy group CEO claims he was offered $20 million to recruit protesters for anti-Trump demonstrations
The CEO of an advocacy group said his organization turned down an offer that he said would have been worth around $20 million to help recruit for a national rally against President Donald Trump. "Interests aligned with the organizers of the July 17th movement have approached us and, in fact, we rejected an offer that probably is worth around $20 million dollars," Adam Swart, the CEO and founder of Crowds on Demand, told NewsNation's Brian Entin in an interview that aired on Tuesday. On Thursday, protests around the country are being planned against Trump, spearheaded by Good Trouble Lives On, a group that calls itself a peaceful and nonviolent protest and social change organization. They are planning to oppose Trump and what they call on their website "the most brazen rollback of civil rights in generations." The protests planned for Thursday also take place on the fifth anniversary of the death of former Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a civil rights leader who routinely referred to protests as "good trouble." Swart said Crowds on Demand — a company based in California that specializes in providing on-demand crowds for protests — rejected the offer because they didn't think protests like the ones Good Trouble Lives On is hosting on Thursday would be effective. "I mean this is a nationwide thing, right? It's not to say I would have made 20 million dollars personally, but the value of the contract would have been worth around that amount nationwide to organize huge demonstrations around the country," Swart said. "But personally, I just don't think it's effective," he added. "So it's not, I'm not trying to call myself virtuous for rejecting it. What I'm saying is, I'm saying I'm rejecting it, not because I don't want to take the business, but because, frankly, this is going to be ineffective. It's going to make us all look bad." "President Trump's America is so successful that blue-haired basement dwellers are paid to stage fake protests against the administration's remarkable achievements," Harrison Fields, special assistant to the President and principal deputy press secretary, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Paid agitators should find real jobs instead of selling out for gift cards and meager paychecks that aim to divide the nation and obstruct America's greatest comeback. Nothing screams a party in disarray more than one that clearly lacks organic support and is forced to astroturf everything." Left-wing riots in Los Angeles resulting in violence, including the burning of the American flag and the assault of law enforcement officers, as well as the "No Kings Day" protests across the country, have recently made headlines. Fox News Digital reached out to Swart for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News
21-06-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'Red flags' expose paid agitators in violent anti-ICE riots, CEO says
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." "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 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 the fact they're passing out hundreds of tactical gear uniforms is an indication that there's some money. Who is funding these groups?" Swart questioned. "The only reason you need tactical gear is if you're purposefully going into a situation where you're trying to create a riot," he added. Swart said the fact that they are able to pass out expensive tactical gear at a moment's notice is a clear sign that something is off. "We need to look at the entire paper trail. I want to know who is paying for the tactical gear. Who is paying for the Molotov cocktails? And go back from there," he said. "Because when you look into that from a crime perspective, you can understand very quickly whether there is any foreign country involved or whether there's a billionaire involved or whoever. And we need to move very quickly to understand who are the forces that are trying to undermine this country." Swart said that what these violent protests are doing is turning people away from the cause and deterring the public from wanting to support their mission. "Blocking streets is not the way you do that, you know? The way you do that is respectful advocacy, communication, and it's hard to say Trump is the agent of chaos when it's people who are on your side who are throwing Molotov cocktails, blocking streets and preventing access for single moms getting to work to pick up their kids. That doesn't sound like liberal values to me," Swart said. With their positions in power, Swart urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass to get in front of the mess and restore law and order. "If you arrest people for violence, but then they're put back on the street in two hours, they will continue violence. If the ultimate penalty for violent offenders is some sort of diversion program with a few-hundred-dollar fine, then there will be more violence," Swart explained. "So the reality is, until you increase the penalties for violence, until you have mass arrests, then nothing will change in the state of California." "Gavin Newsom knows what people want. He just doesn't think they deserve it. He's kind of like this symbol of what's wrong with the Democratic Party, because he preaches a lot, but he never practices," Swart said. "He never practices anything he preaches, and it's really a sad state of affairs that he has left it (California) in." Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., launched an investigation into a left-wing group in California that he says may be financially supporting violent protests in Los Angeles. Swart said an investigation is absolutely necessary, because the rioters are most likely being funded by someone. Hawley wrote a letter to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) last week, saying the organization may have an "alleged role in financially and materially supporting" protests and riots in Los Angeles, which he described as "coordinated." "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, addressed to CHIRLA Executive Director Angelica Salas, notes that "credible reporting" has indicated that the organization has provided "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 in the letter. CHIRLA did not respond to a request for comment. Hawley told Fox News Digital that the Senate committee was sending out several letters to a number of organizations in question. Swart added that what is concerning to him in all this is why these "very wealthy billionaires" are allegedly funding the riots in LA. "There are a lot of wealthy left-wing billionaires that are funding it, and their motives are uncertain, which is why I think that it has to be in coordination with hostile foreign regimes, because there's no benefit to creating chaos on the streets for this country," Swart shared. "You have to look at what if they have a financial motive, or they have a sort of foreign corrupt motive, right? Because these foreign countries are always seeking to undermine our system." "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. ICE did not respond to a request for comment. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Trump fans targets Crowds on Demand for alleged role in anti-ICE protests despite MAGA-friendly CEO's denials
Donald Trump have taken to social media to allege that a company called Crowds on Demand has been supplying paid protesters to the anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles and Saturday's nationwide 'No Kings' marches to bolster their numbers. However, CEO Adam Swart has been busily making the rounds of MAGA-aligned media outlets to correct the false narrative around the 'paid protest industry.' Right-wingers on X have insisted, without evidence, that the numbers turning out to oppose ICE and President Trump are routinely bolstered by hired operatives supplied by Swart's company. Crowds on Demand is 'currently fielding high demands for the anti-ICE show,' one user confidently asserted last week. At the same time, another jokingly congratulated a liberal celebrating the 'No Kings' turnout by saying the company 'really came thru for you guys.' Others have breezily suggested its activities are bankrolled by billionaire George Soros, a favorite all-purpose bogeyman of the right. However, the official website for Crowds on Demand, founded by Swart in October 2012, promises only 'impactful advocacy campaigns, demonstrations, PR stunts, crowds for hire and corporate events.' It elaborates: 'We are best known for organizing passionate demonstrations, rallies, flash-mobs, corporate PR events, and light-hearted events such as paparazzi, brand ambassadors, and PR stunts.' Attempting to combat the misinformation, Swart appeared on One America News Network (OANN) last week and said flatly: 'The fact is that we are not involved. 'Of course we get contacted in regards to practically every social movement out there but that doesn't mean we take on these types [of assignments].' He said Crowds on Demand had not sent any activists-for-hire to Los Angeles 'because it involves illegal activity and we do not engage in any form of illegal activity – of course, no violence, no vandalism, and no blocking streets without a permit.' 'I want to completely disassociate myself and Crowds on Demand with what you see going on,' Swart continued, adding that scenes of demonstrators confronting law enforcement were 'more like guerrilla warfare than protest.' Pushed by OANN anchor Dan Ball to say who he believed was 'funding' the demonstrations, Swart evaded the question, saying only that, in his opinion, the participants were nihilistic 'psychopaths' bent on sowing anarchy. Swart has also appeared on podcasts hosted by Newsmax presenter Greg Kelly and boxer David Nino Rodriguez, as well as local radio, to make the same points about this month's clashes in California, and has previously appeared on Fox News and NewsNation. He appears to have an unlikely ally in Elon Musk 's artificial intelligence tool Grok, which recently debunked attacks on his company by ruling: 'The claim that liberals are paid to march lacks credible evidence of a widespread conspiracy. 'Paid protesting exists, with services like Crowds on Demand hired by various groups, including for liberal causes, but it's not exclusive to liberals. 'Most protests, like the 2017 Women's March, appear grassroots, driven by genuine sentiment. The claim is often used rhetorically to discredit protests without solid proof. While some paid participation occurs, no systematic evidence supports the conspiracy.'
