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James Cox Chambers Jr. (born c. 1985),^[1] also known as Fergie Chambers, is an American heir and political activist. He is a member of the Cox family, which derives its wealth from Cox Enterprises.

Early life and education

Chambers is the son of James Cox Chambers and Lauren Hamilton; the Cox family controls Cox Enterprises.^[2] He spent his childhood in Brooklyn, New York, primarily with his mother, as his parents divorced when he was two years old.^[2]^[3]^[4] After attending Saint Ann's School, Chambers was admitted to Bard College, but dropped out before completing a degree.^[3] He subsequently worked for a year at Manheim Auctions, a company owned by his family, as a management trainer.^[3]^[2] Chambers owned a portion of Cox Enterprises until divesting from the company in 2023, resulting in a payout estimated by Rolling Stone of at least $250 million.^[5]

Activism

Cox describes himself as a Communist and has provided funding for far-left causes and activists, such as paying legal fees for others.^[1] In Massachusetts, he founded a group called the Berkshire Communists, which identifies itself as a "revolutionary Marxist-Leninist collective"; his title is general secretary.^[6]^[7]^[2] Chambers also opened a gym called the Berkshire People's Gym which was closed to "landlords and capitalists", among others.^[7] His property purchases in the Berkshires have been described as forming a "commune" by Mother Jones.^[3] In Georgia, Chambers has provided financial support for members of the Stop Cop City movement.^[3]^[8]

Chambers is a supporter of Hamas; he described the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel as "a moment of hope and inspiration".^[3]^[7] While denying to Mother Jones a report that he chanted "Death to America" every day, Chambers said "I think the most important thing for the prosperity of humanity is the destruction of the US".^[3] He has also been supportive of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and visited Russian-occupied Donbas.^[4]

Personal life

Chambers was first married to a Russian woman, Anya Vostrova, whom he met at Bard. They lived in Russia for some time after 2008, and have three children together.^[3]^[4]^[5] Chambers and his second wife, Cameron Park, met in Atlanta after his return from Russia.^[4] In 2013, Chambers was arrested for domestic battery and false imprisonment of Park, although he was not prosecuted; they divorced after 2020.^[2]^[4]^[5] In February 2024, he married Stella Schnabel, daughter of filmmaker Julian Schnabel; they have a son together.^[3]^[5]

Chambers is a practicing Muslim and currently resides in Tunis, Tunisia.^[5] Chambers previously lived in New Hampshire and the Berkshires region of Massachusetts.^[1]^[9] His wealth is self-reported to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d McPhee, Michele (2023-10-27). "Cox Family Fortune Heir: 'I Chant Death to America Every Day'". LAMag. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Weiss, Suzy (4 December 2023). "He's Got $250 Million to Spend on Communist Revolution". The Free Press. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Butler, Kiera (2024-03-21). "There's a Communist Multimillionaire Fomenting Revolution in Atlanta". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Adler, Dan (2024-05-01). "The Life and Times of Fergie Chambers". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Peisner, David (2024-03-24). "Fergie Chambers Is Heir to One of America's Richest Families — and Determined to See the U.S. Fall". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
^ Bellow, Heather (2023-12-12). "Has Fergie Chambers shut down the Berkshire Communists' 'gym' as ordered by Alford officials? It remains unclear". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bellow, Heather (2023-11-16). "Young. Communist. Gun-owner. Multimillionaire. Pro-Palestine. Pro-Hamas. Berkshire landowner. Meet James 'Fergie' Chambers". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
^ Wheatley, Thomas (19 July 2023). ""Stop Cop City" petition drive backed by big bucks". Axios. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
^ Bellow, Heather (2024-01-09). "Alford has shut down Fergie Chambers' communist gym for permit breach". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[McPhee-2023-1] McPhee, Michele (2023-10-27). "Cox Family Fortune Heir: 'I Chant Death to America Every Day'". LAMag. Archived from the original on 2024-03-23. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[Weiss-2023-2] Weiss, Suzy (4 December 2023). "He's Got $250 Million to Spend on Communist Revolution". The Free Press. Archived from the original on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[Butler-2024-3] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Butler, Kiera (2024-03-21). "There's a Communist Multimillionaire Fomenting Revolution in Atlanta". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[:0-4] Adler, Dan (2024-05-01). "The Life and Times of Fergie Chambers". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2024-06-02.

[Peisner-2024-5] Peisner, David (2024-03-24). "Fergie Chambers Is Heir to One of America's Richest Families — and Determined to See the U.S. Fall". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2024-03-27. Retrieved 2024-03-27.

[6] Bellow, Heather (2023-12-12). "Has Fergie Chambers shut down the Berkshire Communists' 'gym' as ordered by Alford officials? It remains unclear". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[Bellow-2023-7] Bellow, Heather (2023-11-16). "Young. Communist. Gun-owner. Multimillionaire. Pro-Palestine. Pro-Hamas. Berkshire landowner. Meet James 'Fergie' Chambers". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

[8] Wheatley, Thomas (19 July 2023). ""Stop Cop City" petition drive backed by big bucks". Axios. Archived from the original on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.

[9] Bellow, Heather (2024-01-09). "Alford has shut down Fergie Chambers' communist gym for permit breach". The Berkshire Eagle. Archived from the original on 2024-03-26. Retrieved 2024-03-29.

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+{{Short description|American heir and political activist}}
-'''James Cox Chambers Jr.''' (born {{Circa|1985}})<ref name="McPhee-2023">{{Cite web |last=McPhee |first=Michele |date=2023-10-27 |title=Cox Family Fortune Heir: 'I Chant Death to America Every Day' |url=https://lamag.com/crimeinla/cox-family-heir-james-fergie-chambers-funding-palestine-action-in-exclusive-funding-palestinian-action-us |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[Los Angeles Magazine|LAMag]] |language=en}}</ref>, also known as '''Fergie Chambers''', is an American [[heir]] and political activist. He is a member of the Cox family, which derives its wealth from [[Cox Enterprises]].
+{{For|his father, James Cox Chambers Sr.|James Cox Chambers}}
+'''James Cox Chambers Jr.''' (born {{Circa|1985}}),<ref name="McPhee-2023">{{Cite web |last=McPhee |first=Michele |date=2023-10-27 |title=Cox Family Fortune Heir: 'I Chant Death to America Every Day' |url=https://lamag.com/crimeinla/cox-family-heir-james-fergie-chambers-funding-palestine-action-in-exclusive-funding-palestinian-action-us |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[Los Angeles Magazine|LAMag]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323204008/https://lamag.com/crimeinla/cox-family-heir-james-fergie-chambers-funding-palestine-action-in-exclusive-funding-palestinian-action-us |url-status=live }}</ref> also known as '''Fergie Chambers''', is an American [[heir]] and political activist. He is a member of the [[Cox family]], which derives its wealth from [[Cox Enterprises]].
 == Early life and education ==
-Chambers is the son of [[James Cox Chambers]] and Lauren Hamilton; the Cox family control [[Cox Enterprises]].<ref name="Weiss-2023" /> He spent his childhood in [[Brooklyn]], New York, primarily with his mother, as his parents divorced when he was young.<ref name="Butler-2024">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Kiera |date=2024-03-21 |title=There’s a Communist Multimillionaire Fomenting Revolution in Atlanta |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/theres-a-communist-multi-millionaire-fomenting-revolution-in-atlanta/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Weiss-2023">{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Suzy |date=4 December 2023 |title=He’s Got $250 Million to Spend on Communist Revolution |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/hes-got-250-million-to-spend-on-communist |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[The Free Press (media company)|The Free Press]] |language=en}}</ref> After attending [[Saint Ann's School (Brooklyn)|Saint Ann's School]], Chambers was admitted to [[Bard College]], but dropped out before completing a degree.<ref name="Butler-2024" /> He subsequently worked for a year at [[Manheim Auctions]], a company owned by his family, as a management trainer.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /> Chambers owned a portion of Cox Enterprises until divesting from the company in 2023, resulting in a payout estimated by [[Rolling Stone|''Rolling Stone'']] to be worth at least $250 million.<ref name="Peisner-2024" />
+Chambers is the son of [[James Cox Chambers]] and Lauren Hamilton; the [[Cox family]] controls [[Cox Enterprises]].<ref name="Weiss-2023" /> He spent his childhood in [[Brooklyn]], New York, primarily with his mother, as his parents divorced when he was two years old.<ref name="Weiss-2023">{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Suzy |date=4 December 2023 |title=He's Got $250 Million to Spend on Communist Revolution |url=https://www.thefp.com/p/hes-got-250-million-to-spend-on-communist |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[The Free Press (online newsletter)|The Free Press]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322185628/https://www.thefp.com/p/hes-got-250-million-to-spend-on-communist |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Butler-2024">{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Kiera |date=2024-03-21 |title=There's a Communist Multimillionaire Fomenting Revolution in Atlanta |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/theres-a-communist-multi-millionaire-fomenting-revolution-in-atlanta/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327164326/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/theres-a-communist-multi-millionaire-fomenting-revolution-in-atlanta/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=Dan |date=2024-05-01 |title=The Life and Times of Fergie Chambers |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/fergie-chambers |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530160506/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/fergie-chambers |url-status=live }}</ref> After attending [[Saint Ann's School (Brooklyn)|Saint Ann's School]], Chambers was admitted to [[Bard College]], but dropped out before completing a degree.<ref name="Butler-2024" /> He subsequently worked for a year at [[Manheim Auctions]], a company owned by his family, as a management trainer.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /> Chambers owned a portion of Cox Enterprises until divesting from the company in 2023, resulting in a payout estimated by ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' of at least $250 million.<ref name="Peisner-2024" />
 == Activism ==
-Cox describes himself as a Communist and has provided funding for far-left causes and activists, such as paying legal fees for others.<ref name="McPhee-2023" /> In Massachusetts, he founded a group called the Berkshire Communists, which identifies itself as a "revolutionary Marxist-Leninist collective."; his title is General Secretary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2023-12-12 |title=Has Fergie Chambers shut down the Berkshire Communists' 'gym' as ordered by Alford officials? It remains unclear |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/alford-berkshire-communists-peoples-gym-fergie-chambers-zoning/article_2c86499a-992b-11ee-b4dc-a7f35fdc48aa.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bellow-2023" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /> Chambers also opened a gym called the Berkshire People's Gym which was closed to "landlords and capitalists", among others.<ref name="Bellow-2023">{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2023-11-16 |title=Young. Communist. Gun-owner. Multimillionaire. Pro-Palestine. Pro-Hamas. Berkshire landowner. Meet James 'Fergie' Chambers |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/james-fergie-chambers-cox-media-berkshire-communists-alford-hamas-antisemitism-israel-palestine/article_87042bcc-7fd5-11ee-99c1-5ff7316e4530.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en}}</ref> His property purchases in the [[Berkshires]] have been described as forming a "commune" by ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]''.<ref name="Butler-2024" /> In Georgia, Chambers has provided financial support for members of the [[Stop Cop City]] movement.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wheatley |first=Thomas |date=19 July 2023 |title="Stop Cop City" petition drive backed by big bucks |url=https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/19/cop-city-james-fergie-chambers-cox-atlanta |work=[[Axios]]}}</ref>
+Cox describes himself as a [[Communism|Communist]] and has provided funding for [[Far-left politics in the United States|far-left]] causes and activists, such as paying legal fees for others.<ref name="McPhee-2023" /> In [[Massachusetts]], he founded a group called the Berkshire Communists, which identifies itself as a "revolutionary [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] collective"; his title is general secretary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2023-12-12 |title=Has Fergie Chambers shut down the Berkshire Communists' 'gym' as ordered by Alford officials? It remains unclear |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/alford-berkshire-communists-peoples-gym-fergie-chambers-zoning/article_2c86499a-992b-11ee-b4dc-a7f35fdc48aa.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326163541/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/alford-berkshire-communists-peoples-gym-fergie-chambers-zoning/article_2c86499a-992b-11ee-b4dc-a7f35fdc48aa.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Bellow-2023" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /> Chambers also opened a gym called the Berkshire People's Gym which was closed to "landlords and capitalists", among others.<ref name="Bellow-2023">{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2023-11-16 |title=Young. Communist. Gun-owner. Multimillionaire. Pro-Palestine. Pro-Hamas. Berkshire landowner. Meet James 'Fergie' Chambers |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/james-fergie-chambers-cox-media-berkshire-communists-alford-hamas-antisemitism-israel-palestine/article_87042bcc-7fd5-11ee-99c1-5ff7316e4530.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en |archive-date=2024-01-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109112540/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/james-fergie-chambers-cox-media-berkshire-communists-alford-hamas-antisemitism-israel-palestine/article_87042bcc-7fd5-11ee-99c1-5ff7316e4530.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His property purchases in the [[Berkshires]] have been described as forming a "commune" by ''[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]''.<ref name="Butler-2024" /> In [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], Chambers has provided financial support for members of the [[Stop Cop City]] movement.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wheatley |first=Thomas |date=19 July 2023 |title="Stop Cop City" petition drive backed by big bucks |url=https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/19/cop-city-james-fergie-chambers-cox-atlanta |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |access-date=26 March 2024 |archive-date=23 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323204008/https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/07/19/cop-city-james-fergie-chambers-cox-atlanta |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Chambers is a supporter of [[Hamas]]; he has described the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|October 7th attack]] launched by Hamas into Israel as "a moment of hope and inspiration".<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Bellow-2023" />
+Chambers is a supporter of [[Hamas]]; he described the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]] as "a moment of hope and inspiration".<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Bellow-2023" /> While denying to ''Mother Jones'' a report that he chanted "[[Death to America]]" every day, Chambers said "I think the most important thing for the prosperity of humanity is the destruction of the US".<ref name="Butler-2024" /> He has also been supportive of [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]] and visited Russian-occupied [[Donbas]].<ref name=":0" />
 == Personal life ==
-Chambers was first married to a Russian woman whom he met at Bard. They lived in Russia for some time after 2008; they have two children together.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /><ref name="Peisner-2024" /> Chambers and his second wife met in Atlanta after his return from Russia. In 2013, Chambers was arrested for [[Domestic violence|domestic battery]] and false imprisonment of his wife, although he was not prosecuted; they divorced after 2020.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Weiss-2023" /><ref name="Peisner-2024" /> In February 2024, he married Stella Schnabel, daughter of filmmaker [[Julian Schnabel]]; they have a son together.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Peisner-2024">{{Cite web |last=Peisner |first=David |date=2024-03-24 |title=Fergie Chambers Is Heir to One of America’s Richest Families — and Determined to See the U.S. Fall |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fergie-chambers-cox-enterprises-heir-overthrow-us-1234983156/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref> He has four children in total.<ref name="Weiss-2023" />
+Chambers was first married to a [[Russia]]n woman, Anya Vostrova, whom he met at Bard. They lived in Russia for some time after 2008, and have three children together.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Peisner-2024" /> Chambers and his second wife, Cameron Park, met in [[Atlanta]] after his return from Russia.<ref name=":0" /> In 2013, Chambers was arrested for [[Domestic violence|domestic battery]] and false imprisonment of Park, although he was not prosecuted; they divorced after 2020.<ref name="Weiss-2023" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="Peisner-2024" /> In February 2024, he married Stella Schnabel, daughter of filmmaker [[Julian Schnabel]]; they have a son together.<ref name="Butler-2024" /><ref name="Peisner-2024">{{Cite magazine |last=Peisner |first=David |date=2024-03-24 |title=Fergie Chambers Is Heir to One of America's Richest Families — and Determined to See the U.S. Fall |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fergie-chambers-cox-enterprises-heir-overthrow-us-1234983156/ |access-date=2024-03-27 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=2024-03-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327005501/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/fergie-chambers-cox-enterprises-heir-overthrow-us-1234983156/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
-Chambers is a practicing Muslim and currently resides in [[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]].<ref name="Peisner-2024" /> Chambers previously lived in New Hampshire and the Berkshires region of Massachusetts.<ref name="McPhee-2023" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2024-01-09 |title=Alford has shut down Fergie Chambers' communist gym for permit breach |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/fergie-james-chambers-alford-peoples-gym-berkshire-communists-east-road/article_347ae5fa-aef4-11ee-a290-375b8920ac52.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[The Berkshire Eagle]] |language=en}}</ref> His wealth is self-reported to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.<ref name="McPhee-2023" />
+Chambers is a practicing Muslim and currently resides in [[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]].<ref name="Peisner-2024" /> Chambers previously lived in [[New Hampshire]] and the Berkshires region of Massachusetts.<ref name="McPhee-2023" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=2024-01-09 |title=Alford has shut down Fergie Chambers' communist gym for permit breach |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/fergie-james-chambers-alford-peoples-gym-berkshire-communists-east-road/article_347ae5fa-aef4-11ee-a290-375b8920ac52.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=[[The Berkshire Eagle]] |language=en |archive-date=2024-03-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240326164040/https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/southern_berkshires/fergie-james-chambers-alford-peoples-gym-berkshire-communists-east-road/article_347ae5fa-aef4-11ee-a290-375b8920ac52.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His wealth is self-reported to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.<ref name="McPhee-2023" />
 == References ==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Chambers, Fergie}}
 [[Category:Cox family]]
+[[Category:American communists]]
+[[Category:American expatriates in Tunisia]]
+[[Category:21st-century American people]]
+[[Category:Living people]]
+[[Category:Muslim socialists]]
+[[Category:Muslims from Massachusetts]]
+[[Category:Muslims from New Hampshire]]
+[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]