Paid protesting is a burgeoning industry which is bringing thousands of new jobs to cities across the nation. It has been hailed as an economic boon to thousands of underemployed Americans who finally have a way to parlay their free Saturday mornings into extra income. For those higher up in the protesting organizations, what began as a side job is quickly becoming more like a full time job. But for most protesters and organizers, the lack of benefits is becoming an increasingly important issue.
Some protesters simply like a little extra cash in their pockets. In a recent Saturday morning protest outside Doug Lamborn's offices in Colorado Springs, a local second grade teacher said, "I thank my lucky stars that I finally have a way to earn an extra $20.00, one weekend a month. I don't care about Republicans or Democrats because I'm not even registered to vote. But hey, for $20.00 I'll show up and wave a sign around and pretend like I'm angry! That's my Vegas money." Asked if she ever called in sick to her paid protesting job she replied, "I haven't been sick yet, so I haven't needed to. But I wouldn't expect to be paid if I can't make it to a protest."
But there is a growing number of complaints from other, more serious protesters, in blog comments and on message boards from those who claim that they are being taken advantage of by George Soros, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and the Mainstream Media.
One anonymous message board participant told this reporter via direct message, "I take my paid protesting very seriously. I really see a future in this industry. I started a facebook group that has 25 members--and six of them are fake profiles I took the time to create to make it seem like we have a larger movement than we do. That's going the extra mile! But the one week I had the flu and couldn't get out of bed for a protest, Soros left me high and dry. There needs to be sick leave if I'm going to really invest myself in this job."
Another message board user opined, "You would think, being organized protesters, we would be able to pull ourselves together and protest this terrible lack of benefits and paid leave, but without George Soros giving orders, we are totally unable to function as a group."
However, as the numbers of paid protesters increases, there has been talk of organizing as an informal worker's union. Said one high-up organizer, who met with this reporter under cover of night, "I would support a workers' union to demand sick leave and benefits. I hate what I am forced to do to these dedicated employees. It's incredible that out of the thousands of people I pay, not one has gone to the press. That's better than the FBI! But when our workers need a day off, or want to opt in to benefits, we can't help them out. The Soros/Obama people pretend like they care about this country, but when it comes to actually caring about their workers? Nothing! I'll admit sometimes I'm tempted to hijack the movement to demand better treatment for our workers." This source refused to comment about payment and communication methods.
But paid protesters in Denver at the Tax March were happy to share with what they thought was a potential recruit. Asked about the inner workings of their organization, they told this reporter that for each protest or demonstration, they are sent a text from an anonymous number--probably a burner phone--with the time and place they are to show up that week. They are also texted the message to write on their signs. Protesters are paid extra for bringing signs, as long as the signs meet strict size and quality standards. Said one protester, "You can't just show up with a cardboard box and write your message with your kid's crayons. The signs need to look legit."
As for their payment, the protesters said that they receive their funds one of several ways. Some liberal organizers hand off $20.00 bills to workers at the end of rallies through handshakes, "like drug dealers on TV," said one protester. Another protester receives funds in the form of Starbucks gift card codes. Some fashionable female protesters are even paid in Ivanka Trump merchandise, which goes to show how little protesters actually care about anything. Some protesters prefer this method as it is harder for conservatives--who are always watching for the hand offs--to spot. It just looks like friends are having a clothing swap after a rally.
Asked about how a benefits package could be secretly given to workers, the protesters said that they had "no idea how that would even work," but they were in favor of the idea anyway.
Asked if they would be willing to switch from demonstrating for the liberal organization to demonstrating for a conservative one, protesters were open to the idea, if the compensation was competitive. "We're here because we get paid," one protester stated bluntly. "All of us have received offers to work for a conservative protesting organization, but conservatives barely pay anything. Unfortunately for them, they can't get illegal immigrants to do the work for them, because that would jam their message. Their only option is to out-bid the liberals, and they refuse to do that." Asked about sick leave and benefits, this protester also commented, "I personally would be willing to 'switch sides' if the conservatives offered benefits and sick and family leave, even if the pay was really low. Those are things I don't currently get at either of my part time jobs."
A Deep State employee with the Park Service that spoke with this reporter on condition of anonymity confirmed the discrepancy between conservative and liberal wages. "I've seen secret documents confirming that liberal protesters are paid more than conservative protesters. The one exception is those Trump rallies. Attendees at those rallies are paid more than double what any other protesters are paid, so it's pretty competitive to get picked. But they are required to shout and scream and basically be complete sycophant groupies to the president. You have to pay more to get people to really give up their souls like that." But still, these protesters are given no health benefits or sick leave. The Deep State employee commented that, "Those people are so far gone, I'm not sure that anything other than immediately receiving wads of cash would make a difference. But yeah, for regular demonstrators, I think benefits would make a huge difference in which side they choose to work for."
