The same top Democratic donors who filled the coffers of President Joe Biden’s campaign are also funding organizations that have been organizing anti-Israel protests on American college campuses.
Among these donors are big names such as George Soros, David Rockefeller Jr., and Susan and Nick Pritzker, according to a report by Politico. These protests have been particularly prominent at institutions like Columbia University and could have ramifications for President Biden’s appeal to young voters and the overall public perception of his administration.
The heart of the controversy revolves around the involvement of the Tides Foundation, which is known for supporting various social change nonprofits and is underwritten by significant donations from Democratic megadonors, including Soros.
As Politico outlined, “The donors [of these campus protests] include some of the biggest names in Democratic circles: Soros, Rockefeller and Pritzker.” Specifically, Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund have been identified as contributors to the Tides Foundation, which, in turn, has allocated funds to groups like Jewish Voice for Peace, an organization that adopts an anti-Zionist stance and backs the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.
It is crucial to note, however, that the flow of financial support is not as straightforward as it may appear. As a Rolling Stone review points out, it’s a complicated endeavor to trace funds through entities like the Tides Foundation to specific recipients, which makes assertions about donor intentions murky.
For instance, while the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated to the Tides Foundation, they specified that the funds were for the development of a social outcomes market, not protest activities. Subsequently, the Gates Foundation has clarified they have no active grants with the Tides Foundation or to Jewish Voice for Peace or IfNotNow, signaling a misrepresentation in initial reports.
The problematic connections between high-profile donors and the campus protests have stirred concerns among Democrats, especially as these demonstrations gain notoriety with chants such as “Genocide Joe,” a derogatory reference to Biden’s perceived support for Israel.
Despite these challenges, President Biden has recently taken a firm stand against the unrest and violence on college campuses, declaring that “there should be no place on any campus, no place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence against Jewish students.” He underscored the rejection of hate speech and discrimination in all forms, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism.
Relevant articles:
– Biden’s biggest donors? The ones funding anti-Israel protests , Washington Times, 05/07/2024
– ‘Politico’ Misses Mark in Story on Who’s Funding Pro-Palestine Protests Against Biden, Rolling Stone, 05/05/2024
– Biden donors funding groups behind anti-Israel protests on college campuses: report, Fox News, 05/05/2024
– Big Money Democratic Donors Are — Knowingly or Not — Fueling Anti-Israel Protests on America’s Campuses, The New York Sun, 05/05/2024
– Biden’s Donors Are Funding Anti-Israel Protests at Universities, theTrumpet.com, 05/06/2024