CodePink launches China tour as grand jury investigation into Singham network funding continues
CodePink Announces 12‑Day China Trip Amid Scrutiny Over Funding Sources
A California‑based nonprofit, CodePink, has announced a month‑long tour of China that will bring participants to Shanghai, Chongqing, Zunyi, Loushanguan, Maotai Village and Guiyang. The 12‑day, 11‑night excursion will cost between $3,000 and $4,000 per attendee and will include visits to “red memorials, historical reenactments and museums, socialist infrastructure and rural revitalization,” according to the organization’s promotional page.
The tour will be led by CodePink co‑founder Medea Benjamin and her partner, Jodie Evans. Benjamin recently posted a series of short videos on X (formerly Twitter) in which she talked about the upcoming trip and described learning about China’s “revolutionary history” while “marveling at the socialist development” in the country. In a separate clip, she was seen outside a university in China praising the nation’s safety, saying it is “amazing” that an umbrella or bicycle can be left unattended without fear of theft.
CodePink’s promotional materials highlight that participants will be greeted by local Shanghai comrades and will have the opportunity to explore high‑tech infrastructure and modern socialist development. The nonprofit has long promoted itself as a progressive organization focused on human rights and anti‑war activism.
The organization’s funding has drawn attention. Jodie Evans is married to Neville Roy Singham, a 72‑year‑old American entrepreneur who sold his technology firm in 2017 for an estimated $785 million. Investigations by U.S. media outlets have linked Singham to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and revealed that he has funneled roughly $278 million into a network of nonprofits since 2017, including CodePink. The money is said to have supported anti‑ICE, anti‑Israel and pro‑Iran demonstrations.
In June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York opened a grand‑jury investigation into alleged money‑laundering, bank fraud and wire fraud involving Singham and his network of charities. While Singham and CodePink have denied receiving direction from the Chinese government and have stated that they operate on their own political beliefs, no criminal charges have yet been filed against either party.
The nonprofit has declined to comment on the investigation. CodePink’s website and public statements affirm that it does not accept money from the CCP, and co‑founder Medea Benjamin has reiterated that claim in interviews. Meanwhile, Evans has continued to participate in protests organized by the group, including a recent march opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address at the United Nations General Assembly.
The forthcoming China trip follows a broader debate among U.S. lawmakers about foreign influence in domestic political organizations. Several senators have called for greater transparency in the funding of nonprofits with ties to foreign governments.
As CodePink prepares to take participants across China, the organization remains under scrutiny for its financial connections and political activities. The United States justice system’s ongoing inquiry into Singham’s network may influence public perception of the nonprofit’s upcoming tour.