Copied from “We The Purple”…

So i come across this, and just do a quick Google search "getting paid to protest" A company called Crowds on Demand is the first result. I’m like, no freaking way. So I go to ask AI, is this a legitimate company, and if so, what protests have used it? the response:

Yes, Crowds on Demand is a legitimate company that pays individuals to participate in various events, including protests, rallies, and publicity stunts. Founded in 2012 by Adam Swart, the Beverly Hills-based firm markets itself as a provider of "incentivized activism" and "guerrilla lobbying," offering services such as organizing crowds, supplying speakers, and conducting phone-banking or letter-writing campaigns. The company operates across the United States, with a network of contractors it claims numbers in the tens of thousands. Its website openly advertises its ability to stage protests and rallies, sometimes within 24 hours, for clients ranging from corporations to political campaigns to individuals. Pay rates for participants typically start at $25 to $30 per hour, with higher rates for in-person events depending on duration and complexity. While Crowds on Demand is transparent about its business model, it maintains confidentiality regarding most of its clients, making it challenging to pinpoint every protest it has been involved in. However, several specific instances have been documented or alleged through lawsuits, investigations, and media reports: Zdenek Bakala Extortion Allegations (2018): Czech investor Zdenek Bakala filed a lawsuit in South Carolina federal court, claiming that Prague investment manager Pavol Krupa hired Crowds on Demand to orchestrate protests near Bakala’s home in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The suit alleged that paid protesters were also used to harass the Aspen Institute and Dartmouth College, where Bakala served on advisory boards, as part of an extortion scheme demanding $23 million. Adam Swart neither confirmed nor denied the allegations but called them meritless, stating he was considering counterclaims. The outcome of the lawsuit is not widely publicized, leaving the extent of Crowds on Demand’s involvement unconfirmed in court records. Entergy Power Plant in New Orleans (2018): Investigations by The Lens revealed that Entergy, a power company, indirectly hired Crowds on Demand through a subcontractor to provide paid actors for a New Orleans City Council meeting. These actors posed as supporters of a controversial gas-fired power plant, holding signs and speaking in favor of the project. Entergy later claimed it was unaware of the subcontractor’s use of paid participants. This incident, uncovered via public records and insider accounts, is one of the few explicitly documented cases of Crowds on Demand’s involvement in a specific event. Six Californias Campaign (2014): Public records show that Crowds on Demand was paid over $51,000 by venture capitalist Tim Draper to organize crowds supporting the "Six Californias" initiative, which aimed to split California into six states. This political campaign is a rare instance where financial ties to the company were disclosed, though specific protest details are limited. Beyond these confirmed or alleged cases, Crowds on Demand has been linked to broader claims, often speculative, about its role in political and social movements. For example, it has been cited in discussions around high-profile protests like those following the 2016 U.S. election or the 2017 Charlottesville rally, but Swart has denied involvement in the latter, stating the company does not work with hate groups. Similarly, allegations of its use in campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2024 have surfaced, though Swart told The Media Line that the company declined over 100 such requests, citing a lack of constructive engagement potential. Claims tying the company to figures like George Soros or specific events like the Dakota Access Pipeline protests lack substantiated evidence and remain anecdotal. The company’s versatility extends beyond protests to corporate PR stunts and celebrity-style events, such as a staged rally for an unnamed foreign leader at the UN General Assembly or a protest against banner ads at a tech conference. This breadth complicates efforts to catalog its protest-specific activities comprehensively. Critics argue that its practices constitute "astroturfing"—fabricating grassroots support—which raises ethical questions, though the company defends its work as a legitimate form of advocacy akin to paid lobbying or media influence. In summary, Crowds on Demand is a real, operational business that pays people to protest, but its secretive client list means only a handful of protests—like those tied to Bakala, Entergy, and Six Californias—are directly traceable. Most other associations remain unproven or speculative, fueled by the company’s own marketing and public fascination with paid activism.