(In the US) Senator Hawley Launches Probe into California’s CHIRLA, Alleging Nonprofit Funded Violent Los Angeles Protests

 Missouri Senator Josh Hawley is drawing significant attention across the United States for initiating a formal investigation into the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), a California-based nonprofit dedicated to immigrant rights. Hawley accuses the organization of actively supporting violent protests in Los Angeles, alleging that it provided both financial resources and logistical assistance to individuals involved in rioting. Citing what he describes as “credible reporting,” Hawley has demanded that CHIRLA turn over its financial records and communications to substantiate his claims. He emphasized that funding or facilitating civil unrest does not fall under the protections of free speech, framing the investigation as a matter of public safety and accountability.

CHIRLA, which has received substantial government funding—including $750,000 in grants from the Biden administration and a cumulative $34 million in public funds—is alleged to have channeled support for protests through its Rapid Response Network, a program designed to mobilize community action. President Trump has already taken steps to sever the organization’s federal funding, aligning with Hawley’s stance that the recent wave of violence in Los Angeles is not a grassroots movement but rather a coordinated effort driven by paid agitators. The senator and the former president have both pointed to what they describe as orchestrated chaos, raising concerns about the misuse of public funds.

In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized Trump’s recent call for his arrest, labeling it an authoritarian overreach and a dangerous escalation of political rhetoric. Newsom defended the state’s handling of the protests and accused the former president of exploiting the situation for political gain. The controversy has intensified debates over the role of nonprofit organizations in protest movements, the boundaries of free speech, and the use of government funds, placing CHIRLA and Hawley at the center of a heated national conversation.

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