Source: Fox News
Summary
Medea Benjamin and two activists entered a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing wearing T-shirts supporting Iran and Cuba, drawing the attention of lawmakers and Capitol Police. They were escorted out after about 30 minutes. The hearing, focused on foreign influence operations, examined groups like CodePink and their ties to Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. tech tycoon linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga criticized protest groups for using social media to raise funds and mobilize supporters. Benjamin denied any foreign direction and claimed to be anti-war.
Our Reading
As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
Benjamin and her group entered the room with slogans, then left after being asked.
Lawmakers spoke about foreign influence, while activists filmed their exit.
Benjamin later posted a video of her protest, then disappeared down the hall.
The performance, like the message, was carefully staged and shared.
Author: Evan Null
CodePink’s Performance
Medea Benjamin and her fellow activists entered the hearing room with T-shirts supporting Iran and Cuba, drawing immediate attention from lawmakers and Capitol Police. Their presence was part of a planned disruption, designed to highlight what they see as foreign influence in American politics. The group was escorted out after about 30 minutes, but not before they had their moment on camera.
Lawmakers’ Focus on Foreign Influence
The hearing, titled “Trojan Horses: Covert Foreign Malign Influence Operations in America,” centered on groups like CodePink and their alleged ties to foreign governments. Subcommittee Chairman Bill Huizenga emphasized that protest groups use social media to raise funds and mobilize supporters, rather than to affect policy directly. The hearing also examined the role of Neville Roy Singham, a U.S. tech tycoon with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Benjamin’s Response
Benjamin denied any direction from foreign governments, calling herself anti-war and insisting that CodePink receives no money from the Chinese Communist Party. She and her group were later seen outside the hearing room, filming their protest and preparing content for social media. The video was posted just hours after their ejection, continuing the cycle of performance and dissemination.
Connections to Singham
Singham, a U.S. tech tycoon living in Shanghai, has funded a network of left-leaning groups, including CodePink, the People’s Forum, and BreakThrough News. According to Fox News Digital, Singham has given over $278 million to this network, which promotes anti-American and pro-China propaganda. His connections to Chinese state-linked institutions and organizations were a central focus of the hearing.
Continued Activism
After being escorted out of the hearing, Benjamin and her group continued their activism, positioning themselves for maximum media exposure. They later posted a video of their protest, which was quickly shared by far-left activists. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between protest groups and lawmakers, who see such actions as part of a broader foreign influence strategy.
