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Friedman Files — Subject #02
Dossier Profile

Manolo
De Los Santos

Executive Director — The People's Forum

A comprehensive investigative profile examining the activities, affiliations, funding networks, and public statements of the executive director of The People's Forum, a Manhattan-based organization.

Location
Manhattan, NYC
Origin
Dominican Republic
Organization
The People's Forum
Pages
33 Files
Download Manolo's PDF
File 01

Education & Background

Political formation through international social movements

Political Education
Movement-Based Training

De Los Santos received his political education through social movements in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, rather than through traditional academic institutions.

First International Trip
Cuba — Pastors for Peace (2006)

He gained his initial political training through solidarity work, including his first documented trip to Cuba in 2006 as part of a Pastors for Peace delegation.

Files 01–05

Employment & Roles

Organizational positions and institutional affiliations

Primary Role
Executive Director — The People's Forum

Manhattan-based organization described as a socialist hub. Founded and directed by De Los Santos, The People's Forum hosts events, readings, operates a café and library, and publishes cultural works and media.

320 W 37th St, New York, NY 10018 · EIN: 61-1844780
Research Role
Researcher — Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research

Serves as a researcher contributing writing, analysis, and publications. Co-edited a book about the 1966 Havana Conference with Vijay Prashad.

Board Role
Director — Justice and Education Fund

Serves on the board of directors, with influence over the organization's strategy, leadership decisions, and resource allocation. The JEF was flagged by a 2023 New York Times investigation as part of a network funded by Neville Roy Singham.

JEF reported over $15M in revenue (2019)
Speaker
People's Conference for Palestine

Active speaker at the 2024 People's Conference for Palestine in Detroit, co-organized by the Palestinian Youth Movement. Rep. Rashida Tlaib also appeared as a featured speaker.

The People's Forum
Tricontinental Institute
Justice & Education Fund
People's Conference for Palestine
Palestinian Youth Movement
1804 Books
People's Conference for Palestine panel — Manolo De Los Santos circled in red at far right Book Launch poster — Tricontinental, Havana 1966, featuring Vijay Prashad and Manolo De Los Santos Justice and Education Fund Board of Directors webpage — Manolo de los Santos listed InfluenceWatch — highlighted excerpt connecting Justice and Education Fund to Neville Roy Singham
Files 06–10

Protest Activity & Demonstrations

Documented appearances at organized demonstrations

January 30, 2026
Anti-ICE / Anti-National Guard Rally

Warned the Trump administration against deploying the National Guard or ICE, threatening a general strike in response. The People's Forum Instagram reported 300 other cities rallying alongside.

2024
Pre-Inauguration Organizing

Stated intentions to oppose the incoming Trump administration regardless of the election outcome, announcing organizing efforts targeting January 20th.

April 30, 2024
Columbia University Gate Demonstration

Appeared at Columbia University in a large crowd with coordinated printed signs related to the Palestinian cause. Signs included pro-Palestine and ceasefire messaging.

2024
Grand Army Plaza Demonstration — Manhattan

Appeared at a coordinated protest at Grand Army Plaza. Signage included anti-ICE messaging alongside banners referencing Latin America.

2024
Midtown Street March — Manhattan

Seen leading a large pro-Palestinian street mobilization through Manhattan, carrying a Palestinian flag and wearing a keffiyeh.

2024
People's Conference for Palestine — Detroit

Spoke at the 2024 conference in Detroit alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib and other speakers.

Protest Style Assessment (File #23)

Described as a professional organizer with on-the-ground leadership. Activities include promoting BDS, pro-Palestine positions, pro-Cuba/Venezuela regime advocacy, and disruptive tactics including traffic blocks and encampments leading to multiple arrests.

Columbia University gate demonstration April 30 2024 — Manolo De Los Santos circled in red, CEASE GENOCIDE sign Grand Army Plaza demonstration 2024 — Manolo De Los Santos circled in red, MELT ICE banners Midtown Manhattan street march 2024 — Manolo De Los Santos leading protest with large Palestinian flag Manolo De Los Santos speaking at People's Conference for Palestine 2024
Files 04, 08–10

Documented Statements

Sourced public remarks attributed to De Los Santos

We have to bring down this empire with one million cuts.

2024 People's Conference for Palestine, Detroit — [00:57:15]
Instagram reel THAT FINAL BLOW TO ISRAEL caption, 1,307 likes

Because when we finally deal that final blow to Israel, when the state of Israel is finally destroyed and erased from history, that will be the single most important blow that we can give to global capital and to imperialism in our lifetime.

December 6, 2023 — The People's Forum Instagram Video [00:00:40]
Video frame — any means [Applause] subtitle, LLA NYC banner

We urge our comrades of Palestine: continue to resist. We stand with you by any means necessary. We will use whatever we have in our hands, whether it is a rock or something else, but we will defend the Palestinian people.

October 7–8, 2023 — YouTube [00:25:14]

If you dare send the National Guard, if you dare to send your ICE death squads into our cities, we will give you a general strike.

January 30, 2026 — Instagram
Instagram reel WE WILL GIVE YOU A GENERAL STRIKE caption, 1,307 likes

We already said we are going to fight no matter who won the election... that's why we are already organizing for January 20th.

2024 — NYC
Files 11–18

Cuba Activism & Ties

Documented engagements with the Cuban government and solidarity campaigns

March 2026
"Nuestra América" Convoy — Havana, Cuba

Appeared alongside Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel at an international aid campaign. Featured in Havana Times. Activists from The People's Forum, Palestine Youth Movement, People's Assembly, and Party for Socialism & Liberation participated.

March 10, 2026
Meeting with President Díaz-Canel

Met and embraced the Cuban president, calling the relationship one of "comrades" and denouncing U.S. policy as "economic warfare."

2026
Cuba "Solidarity Brigade" Trip Announcement

Announced trip to Cuba with the "Let Cuba Live Youth Brigade" via Instagram.

August 13, 2024
Fidel Castro 98th Birthday Tribute

Praised Fidel Castro as a "Third World hero," celebrating his revolutionary legacy and socialist vision on the anniversary of his birth.

May 3, 2023
10-Day Cuba Visit — Alongside Díaz-Canel

After spending 10 days in Cuba, called on Americans to fight U.S. policy, echoing the Cuban regime's talking points.

2023
Interview on Presidencia Cuba YouTube Channel

Appeared in a filmed sit-down discussion on the official Cuban presidential YouTube channel (EP.07 — Díaz-Canel con jóvenes estadounidenses).

March 20, 2023
Pro-Cuba Event with Rep. Tlaib

Appeared alongside Rep. Rashida Tlaib at a pro-Cuba event, holding a "Lift the Blockade on Cuba" sign.

April 8, 2022
First Documented Meeting with Díaz-Canel

Met with the Cuban president, promoted via The People's Forum Instagram as a "great honor."

November 24, 2021
Solidarity Delegation Arrival in Cuba

Photographed on the tarmac in Havana with U.S. activists as part of an international delegation organized by Brazil's Landless Workers' Movement (MST).

Manolo De Los Santos alongside Cuban President Díaz-Canel at Nuestra América convoy march, March 2026 Manolo De Los Santos embracing Cuban President Díaz-Canel, calling him comrade, 10.4K views, March 10 2026 Manolo De Los Santos with Cuban President Díaz-Canel, 352 likes, April 8 2022 Leaving Cuba after 10 days with President Díaz-Canel, May 3 2023, 24.7K views YouTube screenshot — Manolo De Los Santos and Díaz-Canel in filmed sit-down interview, Presidencia Cuba channel Video still — Díaz-Canel claiming Cuba is more democratic than the United States, Spanish subtitle visible

Cuba Fundraising Campaigns

Campaign 1
"Let Cuba Live: Donate for Urgent Humanitarian Aid"

Run through The People's Forum on GiveLively.

$150K
Goal
$237K+
Collected
Timeframe: 2023 → 2024
Campaign 2
"Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors"

Follow-up campaign with an expanded fundraising goal.

$400K
Goal
$222K
Collected
Timeframe: 2024
Let Cuba Live: Donate for Urgent Humanitarian Aid — $237,058 raised, $150,000 goal Let Cuba Live: Bread for Our Neighbors — $221,995 raised, $400,000 goal Instagram reel — I'M GOING TO CUBA WITH THE LET CUBA LIVE YOUTH BRIGADE, 1,047 likes Instagram reel — Hundreds convene in Havana in solidarity with Cuba, Nuestra América Convoy, 3.2K likes Manolo De Los Santos with Rep. Rashida Tlaib holding END THE U.S. BLOCKADE sign, March 2023 Manolo De Los Santos selfie with Gerardo Hernández, one of the Cuban Five Airport tarmac — activists including Manolo De Los Santos with Cuban solidarity signs
Notable Association

Documented photograph with Gerardo Hernández, one of the "Cuban Five" — Cuban intelligence officers arrested in 1998 and convicted in Miami of espionage and conspiracy to murder.

Files 19–20

Venezuela Ties

Documented connections to the Venezuelan government

2022
Meeting with President Nicolás Maduro

Photographed alongside Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Vijay Prashad — the executive director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research — in a documented in-person meeting.

Ongoing
Repeated Trips & Public Advocacy

Documented waving a Venezuelan flag at a protest while publicly praising the country's political system. Claims to have visited Venezuela over 20 times since 2005 to "study, listen, and report."

Manolo De Los Santos, Vijay Prashad, and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro giving thumbs up Instagram post — Manolo De Los Santos waving Venezuelan flag, noting 20+ visits since 2005 Manolo De Los Santos at Venezuelan solidarity protest waving large Venezuelan flag
Files 24–30

Funding Network

How money flows into The People's Forum

$20M+
Singham Donations (2017–2022)
$15M
TPF Revenue (FY 2019)
$17.4M
TPF Net Assets (FY 2019)
$7.08M
TPF Revenue (2024)

The Money Pipeline

Neville Roy Singham
CCP-linked billionaire Marxist (resides in China) · Sold IT business for $785M
Donor-Advised Funds
Goldman Sachs Philanthropy Fund
$2.5M (2017) · $4.4M (2018) · $12M (2019)
The People's Forum (NYC)
501(c)(3) · Net Assets ~$17.4M (FY2019)
Additional Donor
Tides Foundation / Tides Center

$3,750,000+ to The People's Forum. Associated with George Soros' Open Society Foundations network.

Fiscal Partner
Alliance for Global Justice (AFGJ)

A fiscal sponsor organization supporting over 140 left-wing organizations, taking 7–8% commission. Originated from the Nicaragua Network. Funded by Open Society Foundations and Tides Foundation. In 2020, AFGJ received $250,000 from the Open Society Foundation.

Board Connection
Justice and Education Fund

De Los Santos sits on the board. JEF received $50K from Tides (2022). Flagged by a 2023 NYT investigation as part of the Singham funding network.

Key Figure
Neville Roy Singham

Subject of a major New York Times investigation tracking hundreds of millions of dollars through nonprofits — several with UPS store mailboxes as addresses. Married to Jodie Evans of Code Pink.

NYT Investigation Finding

Public disclosure forms show Singham and his wife Evans donated over $20.4 million to The People's Forum from 2017 to 2022 through a series of shell organizations and donor advisory groups — accounting for nearly all of the group's funding.

InfluenceWatch — The People's Forum showing Neville Roy Singham $20M+ donation connection Who funds People's Forum — grants table showing United Community Fund, AFGJ, Justice and Education Fund Nonprofit Explorer — Peoples Forum Inc 2024 financials: $7.08M revenue, $4.91M expenses NGO Monitor — AFGJ funding showing Open Society Foundation connection NGO Monitor — Tides Foundation Funding to NGOs table, Alliance for Global Justice amounts
Files 31–32

Salary & Compensation

IRS Form 990 filings from Nonprofit Explorer

$63,125
Last Reported Salary (2018)
$8,190
Benefits (2018)
$71,315
Total Compensation (2018)
$0
Reported Compensation (2024)
Name Title Compensation Related Other
Layan Fuleihan Education Director $70,000 $0 $8,649
David Chung Organizing Director $67,600 $0 $8,649
Ryan Hamby General Manager $61,030 $0 $11,058
Manolo De Los Santos Executive Director $0 $0 $0
Nonprofit Explorer 2018 IRS filing — Manolo De Los Santos $63,125 plus $8,190 benefits Nonprofit Explorer 2024 IRS filing — Manolo De Los Santos showing $0 compensation
Compensation Anomaly

Despite remaining listed as the full-time Executive Director, De Los Santos reports $0 in all compensation categories in recent 990 filings, while other staff members continue drawing salaries. His last reported compensation was in 2018.

File 33

Contact & Social Handles

Publicly documented social media accounts