World

Far‑Right Protester Attempts to Disrupt Seattle Diwali Celebration

By Aadrita Halder

A Diwali celebration in Seattle was interrupted on Saturday when far‑right activist Jake Lang and a group of protesters tried to disrupt the event while holding placards that read "Deport All Dot Heads." Lang was confronted and physically stopped by attendees. After the incident, Lang posted images of the attempted disruption on X and launched an abusive tirade against Hindus, accusing them of causing Texas to vote Democratic.

U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and other prominent Indian Americans condemned the disruption. In a post on X, Jayapal called the display "vile and racist" and said the Indian‑American community should be able to celebrate Diwali without fear. Businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also condemned the incident, calling it "pure bigotry" and stating that racial slurs targeting Hindus have no place in the United States.

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) urged community members in Seattle and surrounding areas to remain vigilant, warning that the activists had announced plans to disrupt other Diwali celebrations.

Lang heads an organization called White Replacement and was among those who participated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He served four years in prison before being pardoned by President Donald Trump on the first day of his second presidency in 2025.

The incident came shortly after President Trump celebrated Diwali at the White House with Indian tech entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, chef Vikas Mehta and others, lighting a ceremonial diya and receiving a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa. Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson also marked the festival at the state Legislative Building in Olympia with the Consul General of India and state Senator Manka Dhingra, proclaiming the week as Diwali in Washington State.

The attempted disruption in Seattle follows days after another right‑wing activist allegedly plotted a mass shooting at a Hindu temple near Chicago. A 19‑year‑old suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, was arrested after an investigation into threats against the temple.

Lang has also claimed that the U.S. midterm election results, which saw Democrats make gains in states such as Texas and Kansas, were rigged. He called for a protest ahead of the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack, saying that "Christian Crusaders" would descend upon the U.S. Capitol to protest the certification of the "rigged midterms."