Far-left streamer Hasan Piker praises pro-China, anti-ICE activists
A Marxist influencer with millions of followers defended activists linked to tech millionaire Neville Roy Singham's $285 million network funding anti-ICE protests nationwide.
Hasan Piker, a livestreamer on the Twitch platform who has emerged as one of the most influential voices on the American left, made the remarks during an impromptu appearance at a protest outside the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, according to New York Post.
When questioned about Neville Roy Singham, an American Marxist tech tycoon, and his extensive funding network, Piker described those involved as wonderful people and insisted their activities are totally above board and legal. He acknowledged what he called an environment of suspicion surrounding Singham and his network, but dismissed concerns about their operations.
Singham Network Fuels Nationwide ICE Protests
Singham has channeled $285 million since 2017 into a network of nonprofits that have organized and coordinated divisive anti-American street protests across the country, as New York Post reports. In recent months, agitators from the Singham network have fueled, coordinated and organized fiery protests against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, New York City, Los Angeles, New Jersey and other locations.
Piker told reporters he does not have any personal contact with Roy Singham, though he acknowledged knowing some people in the network. He characterized them as activists and emphasized that none of their work is hidden or illegal in any way.
Growing Influence Over Democratic Politics
Piker’s defense of the Singham network carries particular weight given his massive reach among younger voters. With millions of followers across Twitch, YouTube and social media platforms, he has become a significant force in Democratic politics, regularly mobilizing support for candidates and causes aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. At the Newark protest, Piker wore a baseball cap emblazoned with the organization’s logo.
The online influencer has used his platforms to interview, promote and campaign alongside candidates backed by Democratic Socialists of America, helping introduce them to younger voters who consume political content online. His audience reach has given him the ability to shape narratives and drive grassroots enthusiasm for candidates running on socialist and anti-establishment platforms.
Federal Investigation Into Cuba Travel
The remarks come as federal investigators have expanded scrutiny of activists involved in travel to communist Cuba, including organizations and individuals linked to the broader network of nonprofits and advocacy groups that have received funding from Singham and his wife, Jodie Evans, who co-founded Code Pink.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sent Piker and CodePink an administrative subpoena as part of an investigation into a March convoy to Cuba, New York Post reveals. However, Piker claimed he had not personally received any legal notice and suggested that news outlets appeared to have more insight into what the federal government was doing than he did.
Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin disclosed that Evans received the query via an email that initially landed in a spam folder. Benjamin stated in an interview shared publicly by BreakThrough News, another nonprofit that Singham has funded, that they first heard about the subpoena from news coverage.
Transnational Network Behind Cuba Convoy
The March 2025 convoy to Cuba involved a transnational network of activists organized by another Singham-funded group, the People’s Forum, and a nonprofit called Progressive International, both with close ties to the communist regime in Cuba. The activists are protesting U.S. sanctions on the communist island.
Piker participated in the trip alongside members of Code Pink and a network of 145 organizations. The Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers and enforces U.S. sanctions programs, sent investigative letters seeking financial, logistical and communications documents about the March convoy.
The influencer framed the investigation as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to target political activists and protesters, arguing that scrutiny of Cuba travel conflicted with campaign promises to defend free speech.
With information from New York Post
