“Fox and Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones verbally brawled with Crowds on Demand CEO Adam Swart on Friday over who was paying him to provide crowds for protests.
Protests have taken place, including the “No Kings” protests in multiple cities across the U.S. on July 4, with some of them turning violent, including one in Portland, Oregon, where rioters stormed a facility used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). After Swart claimed his company engaged in “peaceful protest,” Jones asked Swart if the use of paid protesters gave an “accurate account” of public sentiment, prompting Swart to claim the Tea Party used paid protesters, leading Joned to jump in. (RELATED: Scott Jennings Doesn’t Let CNN Panelist Off The Hook When She Calls ICE ‘Gestapo’ During Fiery Exchange)
“I remember the Tea Party, I was part of the Tea Party and those were organic protests. I guess what I’m trying to get at is the Tea Party was moms, dads-” Jones said before Swart cut him off, claiming, “They were heavily funded, Lawrence. They were heavily funded.”
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“People protesting were not paid to protest there,” Jones shot back. “So what I’m asking you is, is there are liberal campaigns paying for, liberal nonprofits? Like, who is cutting the check?”
Several conservative events, candidates and politicians have been targeted by paid protesters over the years. Swart claimed he passed up a $20 million offer to recruit anti-Trump protesters in July, according to the Hindustan Times.
“Well, the fact is that both conservative and liberal groups pay for demonstrations because it’s a good way to advocate for your cause and that’s a really important thing,” Swart claimed, with Lawrene cutting him off, saying, “No, no, no, Adam, I’m sorry. I asked the question like three times. I’m trying to get specific, who? I understand liberals but that encompasses so much. What organizations – what candidates are footing the bill?”
Swart gave an evasive answer, claiming that protesters are paid in several ways, including academic fellows who were paid to organize demonstrations. Swart also claimed that Congressional staff were paid protesters.
“It’s an interesting business model,” Jones said. “We look forward to seeing exactly where the money is coming from though. Because I think when you are affecting public policy, everybody likes organic protests, it’s a part of our democracy, but we have groups that are funding-”
“What we do is organic,” Swart claimed, with Jones responding, “It’s not organic, you are paying them. That means it’s totally different. They are professional, paid people.”
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