Seattle: A Diwali celebration in Seattle was disrupted after far-right American activist Jake Lang and a group of protesters allegedly attempted to storm the event, displaying anti-Hindu placards and raising inflammatory slogans, triggering widespread condemnation from US lawmakers and Indian-American community leaders.
The protesters reportedly carried placards bearing slogans such as “Deport All Dot Heads” and “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians”. Lang was confronted and physically stopped by attendees during the incident on Saturday (local time).
Following the confrontation, Lang shared photographs of the incident on social media platform X and posted an abusive message targeting Hindus. He also accused the Hindu community of contributing to Democratic victories in Texas.
US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal strongly condemned the incident, describing it as a racist display. She said the Indian-American community should be able to celebrate Diwali without fear and asserted that hatred had no place in the city or the country.
Indian-American businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also denounced the protest, calling it “pure bigotry” and saying that targeting Hindu Americans and Indian immigrants with racial slurs and conspiracy theories was unacceptable.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) issued a community alert, urging Hindus in Seattle and neighbouring areas to remain vigilant. The organisation also warned that the activists had announced plans to disrupt other Diwali celebrations.
Lang heads an organisation called White Replacement and was among those involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He served four years in prison before receiving a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in January 2025.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over anti-Hindu threats in the US, following the arrest of a 19-year-old suspect accused of plotting a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago.
