Organizers behind the “No Kings” protests are alert to the influence of dark money shaping their strategies, as they gear up for nearly 2,000 nationwide rallies this Saturday. Backed by billionaire-funded groups, the coalition is urging activists to embrace peaceful, creative measures.
During a Zoom briefing, coalition strategist Nadine Bloch warned participants about possible agitators. She encouraged handing out cookies, chanting to drown out troublemakers, or even shouting “Hey, there’s Beyonce!” to draw attention elsewhere. “Some people are giving away cookies,” Bloch said. “What a great idea.”
The activists also discussed small, distracting mishaps—dropping backpacks or spilling coffee—to defuse tension and block escalation. Such tactics reflect a well-funded dark money push that orchestrates public demonstrations to appear organic while steering behavior.
Media scrutiny has revealed that Indivisible collaborates with prominent dark‑money nonprofits—including Planned Parenthood, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the League of Conservation Voters—to stage peaceful yet highly managed actions. Earlier efforts, like Tesla dealership disruptions and town hall counter-protests, showcased this approach.
Coalition leaders flagged the risk of “actors of concern” hijacking the event, especially in the wake of Los Angeles’s recent anti‑ICE unrest featuring looting and fires. Stephen Piggott, from Princeton’s Bridging Divides Initiative, cautioned that such influences “are paying a bit more attention to the No Kings protests than they were… even a week ago.”
Meanwhile, some Democrats have downplayed past turmoil. “There was no violence. I was on the street, I know,” Rep. Maxine Waters stated emphatically.
These preemptive measures underline the potency of dark money in shaping both messaging and event management. By preparing tactics like handing out cookies and staging distractions, organizers aim to preserve order and optics in a media-driven environment.
