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Brian Becker

Nationality:

American
Occupation:

National Director, ANSWER Coalition

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Brian Becker is the national director of the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition, a radical-left, anti-war, antiracist group that organizes political protests. Becker is also the founder and leader of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). 1 He worked formerly for the International Action Center (IAC) and was a member of the Workers World Party (WWP) before splitting off to co-found the PSL. 2 3

Becker is a self-described socialist. 4 He opposes what he considers American imperialism and advocates abolishing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 5 6 He engaged in political protests against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and has defended several communist and socialist regimes, including the Soviet Union, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, and China. 3

Becker is pro-Palestinian and expressed his support for anti-Israel protesters at Harvard University in an open letter from the ANSWER Coalition. 7

Middle East Activism

Opposition to the War on Terror

Brian Becker defended the 9/11 terrorist attack against the United States. He characterized America’s military retaliation against the Taliban as “one of the great crimes and acts of terrorism” in modern history. He argued “that September 11 was not the beginning of violence, but just one point in a long continuum of violence that is fundamentally a consequence of U.S. policies around the world.” 8

In August 2002, while the United States weighed the decision to invade Iraq, Becker traveled to Baghdad as part of a five-person delegation led by Ramsey Clark. In an August 26, 2002 press release, the delegation outlined its objectives to oppose the U.S. war in Iraq and support Iraqi civilians who would be harmed by the war. 9

Becker, through his roles at the ANSWER Coalition and Workers World Party (WWP), led anti-Iraq War protests in 2002 and 2003. 10 2

Palestinian Activism

In 2017, Becker and the ANSWER Coalition sponsored the “National Rally to Support Palestine in DC 2017!” Al-Awad (the Palestine Right to Return Coalition) co-sponsored the event. 11

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack against Israel, Brian Becker signed an open letter from his ANSWER Coalition that celebrated Palestinian nationalist protests at Harvard University. The letter also defended “the Palestinian people in their just struggle against occupation and apartheid.” 7

Becker and the ANSWER Coalition sponsored the November 4, 2023, pro-Palestinian protest in Washington, D.C. That same month, Becker republished an article he wrote criticizing Israel’s attacks against terrorist forces in Gaza in 2002. He updated the 2002 article to show what he considers the more than 20 years of Israeli war against Palestinians. 12

In 2024, Becker expressed his support for the self-immolation of Aaron Bushnell, who set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. to protest the Israel-Hamas war. Becker called Bushnell’s suicide “the ultimate personal sacrifice to end a genocide that the entire world has been witnessing for the past months.” He claimed it was an act of martyrdom. 13

Becker organized the July 2024 anti-Israel protest in Washington, D.C. during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to the United States Congress. Becker said he “[considered] it a disgrace that Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to speak to both houses of Congress.” 14

Becker and the ANSWER Coalition organized a pro-Palestinian rally on April 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. to protest the second Trump administration’s arrest of pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil. Becker said, “the Trump administration’s crackdown on free speech makes it even more urgent to take to the streets in protest.” He also claimed the protesters were exercising their “right to protest genocide.” 15

Opposition to Iran Bombing

In an episode of his “The Socialist Program” podcast, Becker expressed his opposition to America’s 2025 bombing campaign in Iran. 16 In response to the attack, Becker’s ANSWER Coalition called President Donald Trump a war criminal and organized a national day of protests across the United States on June 22, 2025. 17

Defense of Communist Regimes

Soviet Union

At a December 2000 Workers World Party (WWP) conference in New York, Becker celebrated that the WPP had “supported the Soviet Union against imperialism.” Becker praised the Soviet Union for the “invaluable aid” it sent to “Vietnam, Cuba, the African National Congress in South Africa, and other national-liberation movements.”  He also said, “we know that the biggest single contribution that we can make to the final transition to socialism everywhere is to build a truly revolutionary party that can lead the struggle to overthrow imperialism at its center.” 5

Cuba

In 1994, Becker was a member of the International Peace for Cuba Appeal, a movement led by the Communist Party USA calling for increased trade and travel with Cuba. 3 18

In a 2023 episode of Becker’s podcast The Socialist Program titled “The People of the World Stand With Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade,” he expressed similar pro-Cuban sentiments. 19 4

China

In June 2021, Becker spoke at a book launch titled “China’s Great Road; Lessons for Marxist Theory and Socialist Practices,” a discussion based on a book of the same name by pro-Chinese Communist Party author and scholar John Ross. The event celebrated the growth and progress of China’s communist regime. 20

Becker also authored an article in Liberation News claiming the Tiananmen Square Massacre was distorted by Western media. Becker defended the massacre as a legitimate response by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to pacify a violent riot. Becker argued that there were no unarmed students killed in the attack, but rather the victims included soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army who had been murdered by, or clashed with, “armed detachments” of demonstrators. 21

Venezuela

In May 2019, Becker and the ANSWER Coalition sponsored and participated in a pro-Venezuelan protest during which activists occupied the Venezuelan embassy in Washington, D.C. A video on ANSWER’s website about the event shows Becker at the protest. 22

North Korea

In early 2000, Becker traveled to North Korea to build “a movement of genuine solidarity” with Pyongyang. After his trip, Becker celebrated what he described as “the unbreakable determination of the North Korean people to defend their socialist society against U.S. imperialism.” 5

In September 2013, Becker spoke at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo in support of the United States brokering peace with North Korea. The video of his address has been taken down from the ANSWER website, but the article still details his support for a formal peace treaty with North Korea. 23

Becker has also expressed his support for North Korea’s development of intercontinental ballistic missiles as an essential deterrent for the country’s self-defense against America and the West. He blamed the United States for the tension between the two countries. 24

House Committee Investigation

Following ANSWER Coalition-sponsored anti-Israel protests outside the United States Capitol in July 2024 on the occasion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, the United States House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources opened an investigation into Becker and the ANSWER Coalition’s protests which caused over $11,000 in graffiti damage to federally protected land and monuments. The National Park Service (NPS) reported on the damage after arresting several protesters. The initial committee letter accused Becker and ANSWER of violating “nearly every rule of the public gathering permit, which NPS ultimately revoked.” To continue its investigation, the House Committee demanded that Becker and ANSWER submit all permits, documents, and other materials related to the organization and execution of the protests. 25 26

References

  1.  “Brian Becker.” Liberation News. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://liberationnews.org/author/brian_becker/
  2. “Workers World, Vol. 45, No. 4, Jan 30, 2004.” Workers World. January 20, 2004. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.workers.org/pdf/2003/ww013003.pdf
  3. “Brian Becker.” Discover the Network. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individuals/brian-becker/
  4. “@TheSocProgram, X Account.” X. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://x.com/TheSocProgram
  5. York, Byron. “Reds Still.” National Review. February 10, 2003. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.nationalreview.com/2003/02/reds-still-byron-york/
  6. “@BrianBecker, X post.” X. January 14, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://x.com/BrianBeckerDC/status/1614329429412438016
  7. “Open letter against intimidation at Harvard: Defend the freedom to speak in support of Palestine!” ANSWER Coalition. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.answercoalition.org/open_letter_harvard_palestine
  8. Smith, Jack A. “IAC CO-DIRECTOR BRIAN BECKER ANALYZES AFGHAN WAR.” Giao Diem. November 2001. Accessed July 2, 2025. http://www.giaodiemonline.com/thuvien/FotoNews/war-analyze.htm
  9. “Anyone think we could get Donahue to air Ramsey Clark?” Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. August 26, 2002. Accessed July 2, 2025. http://www.casi.org.uk/discuss/2002/msg01266.html
  10. “International A.N.S.W.E.R. Rally.” C-SPAN. April 20, 2002. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/international-answer-rally/139404
  11. “Pittsburgh – Day Trip to D.C. to fight for Palestine!” Facebook. May 26, 2017. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/events/bus-departure-location-tbd/pittsburgh-day-trip-to-dc-to-fight-for-palestine/746991948792351/
  12. Becker, Brian. “‘Support for the Palestinian struggle in the United States is out of the closet.’” Liberation News. November 21, 2023. Accessed July 2, 2025.    https://liberationnews.org/support-for-the-palestinian-struggle-in-the-united-states-is-out-of-the-closet/
  13. Becker, Brian. “Statement by ANSWER National Director Brian Becker on the Self-Immolation of U.S. Airman Aaron Bushnell at the Israeli embassy in Washington D.C.” ANSWER Coalition. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.answercoalition.org/statement_by_answer_national_director_brian_becker_on_the_self_immolation_of_u_s_airman_aaron_bushnell_at_the_israeli_embassy_in_washington_d_c
  14. Silverman, Ellie. “What to expect from Israel-Gaza war protests during Netanyahu’s visit.” Washington Post. July 21, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/07/21/dc-protests-netanyahu-congress-israel-gaza/
  15. “Nationwide coalition announces April 5 march on Washington for Palestine: Stop the genocide! Arms embargo now!” Liberation News. March 29, 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://liberationnews.org/nationwide-coalition-announces-april-5-march-on-washington-for-palestine-stop-the-genocide-arms-embargo-now/
  16. “Trump’s Iran Fail: Endless Wars Won’t Stop US and Israel’s Decline w/ Prof. Wolff.” Sound Cloud. June 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://soundcloud.com/thesocialistprogram/trumps-iran-fail-endless-wars-wont-stop-us-and-israels-decline-w-prof-wolff
  17. “NO war on Iran!” ANSWER Coalition. June 2025. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.answercoalition.org/iran
  18. Hinman, Pip. “International appeal for Cuba.” Green Left. February 2, 1994. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/international-appeal-cuba
  19. “The People of the World Stand With Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade.” Sound Cloud. 2023. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://soundcloud.com/thesocialistprogram/the-people-of-the-world-stand-with-cuba-against-the-us-blockade
  20. “China’s Great Road Book Launch.” The People’s Forum. June 2, 2021. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://peoplesforum.org/events/chinas-great-road-book-launch/
  21. Becker, Brian. “Tiananmen: The Massacre that Wasn’t.” Liberation News. June 4, 2021. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://liberationnews.org/tiananmen-the-massacre-that-wasnt-2/
  22. “VIDEO: Support the Venezuela embassy protectors!” ANSWER Coalition. May 2019. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://www.answercoalition.org/video_embassy_protectors
  23. “Brian Becker speaks on North Korea at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Tokyo.” Liberation News. September 20, 2013. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://liberationnews.org/brian-becker-speaks-on-north-korea-html/
  24. “VIDEO: Brian Becker on DPRK missile test.” ANSWER Coalition. Accessed July 3, 2025. https://www.answercoalition.org/answer_coalition_director_on_dprk_missile_test
  25. “2024.10.31_hnr_letter_to_answer_coalition.pdf.” Natural Resources Committee, U.S. House of Representatives. October 31, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://naturalresources.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2024.10.31_hnr_letter_to_answer_coalition.pdf
  26. “Westerman Continues Investigation into Union Station Protests and Hostile Foreign Influences.” House Committee on Natural Resources. October 31, 2024. Accessed July 2, 2025. https://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=416653
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