SW Arkansas Times

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation Chairman Paul Gosar have sent a letter to Manolo De Los Santos, Executive Director of The People's Forum. This action is part of an ongoing investigation into the pro-Hamas riots that occurred at Union Station on July 24, 2024. The People's Forum and ANSWER Coalition organized these protests.

The committee members stated: "The People’s Forum’s activities on July 24, 2024, and their engagement in anti-Israel protests across the U.S. targeting college campuses and critical infrastructure are part of the broader 'Shut it Down for Palestine' (SID4P) movement, whose membership roster is comprised of radical anti-Israel organizations."

They noted that "ANSWER’s social media posts in the month preceding the July 24 demonstration list collaborative event partners, which include the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Code Pink, and The People’s Forum." These groups allegedly have connections with foreign adversaries such as Hamas, Iran, and the Chinese Communist Party.

Further claims were made regarding ties between SID4P-affiliated organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and AMP with Hamas and Iran. "For example," they mentioned, "SJP and AMP founder Hatem Bazian raised money for KindHearts, which was investigated and had its assets frozen due to coordination with Hamas and Hamas officials."

The House Committee on Natural Resources is currently investigating riots that took place at several locations in Washington D.C., including Columbus Circle and the National Mall. These incidents coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress. The committee has uncovered links between protest organizers and foreign entities such as Hamas and the CCP. This investigation is being conducted alongside other committees examining similar groups active since October 7, 2023.