Calls for an investigation into the funding behind the Los Angeles riots reached the United States Senate on Wednesday, with Josh Hawley (R-MO) being the first Republican to publicly voice this concern.
For several days, reports from Los Angeles have depicted rioters equipped with expensive face shields, earphones, and other protective gear, preparing for confrontations with law enforcement and immigration officials, all stemming from a weekend immigration raid conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Even prominent media figures in the City of Angels have denounced the provision of such equipment, which obscures the faces of demonstrators while shielding them from less-lethal crowd control tactics employed by the National Guard and Marines.
This situation captured Hawley’s attention, and he announced on Wednesday that he intends to initiate an inquiry into the violence as the chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism.
“Who is financing the LA riots? This violence is not spontaneous,” he stated on social media.
In his letter, Hawley addresses the executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, a special interest organization that received funding from the Biden administration and has been linked to various rallies. Critics claim that its members were involved in numerous violent protests.
“While peaceful protest is a fundamental aspect of American democracy, these demonstrations have devolved into lawless mob actions. They have hindered federal law enforcement, jeopardized public safety, and disrupted the rule of law. This lawlessness is intolerable. It must cease,” the letter asserts.
Hawley’s subcommittee, which possesses subpoena authority, is demanding that Salas reveal all documented communications regarding protest preparations in the days leading up to the unrest, as well as any financial documents related to the acquisition of equipment.
Requests also include grant applications, travel and accommodation records, donor lists, and strategic media materials.
“Failure to comply will lead to further action by this Subcommittee, including possible referral for criminal investigation.”
Laura Powell, a prominent liberal attorney from California, utilized X to disclose a screenshot that identifies The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights as a significant contributor to the incitement of violent reactions to immigration enforcement actions.
“For Californians, the ongoing LA riots exemplify the effective use of your tax dollars. The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights—CHIRLA—plays a crucial role in inciting violent responses to immigration enforcement actions. This nonprofit organization, based in LA, has a history of adopting radical stances on immigration; notably, it spearheaded a campaign in 2018 aimed at abolishing ICE. Currently, it leads the Los Angeles Rapid Response Network, which collects intelligence on enforcement actions and mobilizes activists to respond,” Powell elaborated in an extensive post on X.
“CHIRLA maintains strong connections with the Democrat Party in California and has actively supported the election of Democratic candidates through its lobbying efforts. It enjoys a particularly close association with Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Additionally, the organization has a strong relationship with organized labor in the state, which is a significant financial backer of Democratic politicians. On Friday, amidst escalating tensions, CHIRLA organized a rally to protest ICE’s enforcement actions and the arrest of SEIU President David Huerta for obstruction,” she further noted.
Powell went on to state, “The astonishing aspect is that CHIRLA’s operations are largely financed by California taxpayers. I acquired a financial audit indicating that for the fiscal year ending June 2023, it received $34 million from the state, primarily through the Department of Social Services, which constituted 72% of its total revenue. This marks an almost three-fold increase compared to the previous year.”
“In addition, CHIRLA was awarded a $450,000 federal contract in 2023, for which Mayor Bass publicly claimed credit for assisting in securing. However, DHS froze funding in February, leading to a lawsuit from CHIRLA. Subsequently, DHA canceled the contract, and the lawsuit was dismissed. Eisenhower cautioned against the military-in…
