A banner proclaiming “DEFEAT TRUMP’S FASCIST TAKEOVER” appeared during protests last month, boldly displaying the acronym “BAMN” – By Any Means Necessary. This wasn’t a spontaneous outburst; it was a calculated move by a group with deep roots and a complex network, soon to resurface at the University of California, Berkeley.
Just days later, videos surfaced on BAMN’s Instagram, showcasing their leaders fueling an angry crowd on the Berkeley campus. The protest escalated into a violent confrontation outside a Turning Point USA event, resulting in multiple arrests and a chilling display of unrest.
A flyer circulated before the Berkeley event demanded an end to “Fascist Turning Point’s Youth-Oriented Campaign of Incitement to Violence!” A seemingly standard activist handout, it concealed a digital trail leading directly back to BAMN and its affiliated nonprofit.
A QR code on the flyer unlocked a hidden layer, directing users to BAMN.com – the same domain featured on the #NoKings banner weeks earlier. There, downloadable files revealed a crucial piece of information: an email address, ronald.cruz@ueaa.net.
That email domain belonged to “United for Equality and Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund,” a Detroit-based nonprofit described by BAMN as its “affiliate.” This wasn’t a loose association; it was a seamless entity operating across multiple protests, from Los Angeles to Berkeley, and even in response to recent international events.
Ronald Cruz, an attorney listed as counsel for the fund, remains silent despite inquiries. Tax records reveal the organization has enjoyed federal tax-exempt status since 2022, raising questions about the use of charitable status for potentially divisive political activity.
BAMN’s own “Donate” page openly confirms the connection, encouraging tax-deductible contributions to their 501(c)(3) affiliate. With a single click, donors are directed to the UEAALDF website, effectively legitimizing the activist network under the guise of charity.
While the organization’s financial reports show modest public support – less than $100,000 over five years – the implications are far-reaching. Experts suggest a pattern of leveraging nonprofit status to gain moral and legal cover while allegedly promoting organized disruption and division.
Recent calls for scrutiny of nonprofits allegedly promoting political violence, sparked by an incident involving Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, have intensified the focus on groups like BAMN. The convergence of tax exemptions, campus unrest, and politically charged violence presents a growing challenge.
The digital trail reveals a meticulously coordinated infrastructure beneath the surface of seemingly spontaneous protests. This raises critical questions about accountability, transparency, and the potential weaponization of the tax code for political gain.
The stark contrast between BAMN’s relatively peaceful presence at the #NoKings protest and the violence they helped incite at Berkeley underscores a troubling dynamic: appearing charitable while allegedly fostering chaos and hate.
Further complicating the picture, BAMN’s “Affiliates” page links to the “International Trotskyist Committee,” a group promoting “revolutionary Marxism” and supporting the ideology of Leon Trotsky. A flyer advocating for the “Palestinian Struggle” prominently features both BAMN’s logo and those of affiliated communist organizations.
The violence at Berkeley has triggered a federal anti-terrorism investigation led by Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. Officials are preserving records and investigating potential violations of civil rights and free speech protections.
The leadership of “United for Equality and Affirmative Action” – Shanta Driver, Mark Airgood, Yvette Felarca, and Hoku Jeffrey – have not responded to requests for comment. A video featuring organizer Hoku Jeffrey explicitly stated that Turning Point USA attendees were “not welcome” on campus, drawing a disturbing parallel to historical atrocities.
Despite claiming a “primary exempt purpose” of furthering civil rights and conducting related research, the organization’s website is dominated by anti-Israel protests and calls for “Victory to the Palestinian Struggle!” It actively solicits support for legal battles against accusations of antisemitism on college campuses.
This case exposes a complex web of connections, raising profound questions about the boundaries of legitimate activism, the responsibilities of tax-exempt organizations, and the potential for hidden agendas to exploit the system for political advantage.
