A Diwali celebration in Seattle was disrupted on Saturday (local time) after far-right American activist Jake Lang and a group of protesters attempted to interrupt the festivities while carrying placards reading "Deport All Dot Heads". Lang was confronted and physically stopped by some of the people present at the event. Following the incident, Lang posted pictures of the attempted disruption on X and launched an abusive tirade against Hindus, accusing them of being responsible for turning Texas blue in favour of the Democrats. In his post, Lang said, "We were just ASSAULTED by dozens of ANTIFA & HINDUS @ the Seattle Diwali Festival!!!! I guess they didn’t like our “Deport All Dot Heads” sign!!! Hindus flipped Texas blue. F*** them." US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and other prominent Indian Americans have condemned the disruption. In a post on X, Jayapal expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as a racist display and saying the Indian-American community should be able to celebrate the festival without fear. "I am beyond disgusted by this vile and racist display. Diwali is an important holiday and our community should feel safe to celebrate it. This hateful display has no place in our city or this country," she wrote. Indian-American businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also condemned the incident, calling it "pure bigotry" and saying racial slurs targeting Hindus had no place in the United States. "Absolutely disgusting. Jake Lang and Thomas Allen storming a peaceful Diwali celebration in Seattle with signs reading “Deport All Dot Heads” and “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians” is pure hate and bigotry. Diwali is a festival of light, family, and joy — not a threat. Targeting Hindu Americans and Indian immigrants with racial slurs and conspiracy rhetoric has no place in this country. We stand against this racism and for the right of every American to celebrate their heritage freely. #StopAsianHate," he said in a post on X. The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) also condemned the disruption and urged community members in Seattle and surrounding areas to remain vigilant, warning that the activists had announced plans to disrupt other Diwali celebrations. In a post on X, the organisation said, "Community Alert for Seattle and surrounding areas! Hinduphobic bigotry on open display as activists Jake Lang and Thomas Allen burst in to disrupt a Hindu Diwali celebration where children are performing, holding signs such as “Deport all Dotheads” and “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians”. Thankfully, there were others who didn’t tolerate this and removed them from the premises. We condemn such actions and advise community members to stay vigilant while celebrating Diwali, as these activists have announced plans to disrupt other celebrations." Lang heads an organisation called White Replacement and was among those who participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He served four years in prison before being pardoned by US President Donald Trump on the first day of his second presidency in 2025. The incident came shortly after Trump celebrated Diwali at the White House with Indian tech entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, chef Vikas Mehta and others at the Oval Office. The US President participated in a ceremonial diya-lighting and was presented with a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa. Meanwhile, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson also marked the festival at the state's Legislative Building in Olympia, alongside the Consul General of India and state Senator Manka Dhingra. In a post on X, Ferguson said, "We had an incredible celebration of Diwali inside the Legislative Building this week with the Consulate General of India and Sen. Dhingra, and I proclaimed this Sunday to be Diwali, The Festival of Lights In Washington State. Washington state is proud to be home to one of the largest communities of Indian Americans in the country. During the previous decade, we had the fastest growing Indian American population in the entire country. And we have seen this community contribute so much to our state." The attempted disruption in Seattle also comes 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 following an investigation into threats against the temple. The suspect, who professed Nazi ideology, had allegedly outlined a plan to carry out an attack. Meanwhile, Lang has also claimed that the US midterm election results, which saw Democrats make gains in states such as Texas and Kansas, were rigged. Calling for a protest ahead of the anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack, he said, "On January 3rd 2027, Christian Crusaders will descend upon the US Capitol in Washington DC to PROTEST the Certification of the RIGGED Midterms!!!!" Texas saw Democratic victories in the Senate and gubernatorial races, with James Talarico winning the Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa becoming governor.
