Far-Right Activist Jake Lang Disrupts Diwali Celebration in Seattleਸੀਐਟਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਸਮਾਗਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੂਰ-ਸੱਜੇ ਕਾਰਕੁਨ ਨੇ ਵਿਘਨ ਪਾਇਆ

A Diwali celebration in Seattle was disrupted on Saturday after far-right activist Jake Lang and a group of protesters tried to interrupt the festivities at the Seattle Center Armory, carrying placards that read "Deport All Dot Heads" and "Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians". US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Indian-American organisations have condemned the disruption, which took place at a family event where children were performing.

What happened at the Seattle Diwali festival?

According to ANI, Lang and fellow protester Thomas Allen arrived at the Seattle Diwali Festival on Saturday local time and attempted to stall the celebrations. Video from the scene showed the two men holding signs with slogans targeting Hindus before they were physically stopped by people at the event. Lang later posted on X claiming he and other protesters had been assaulted by attendees, and posted abusive remarks targeting the Hindu community.

Who is Jake Lang?

Lang runs an organisation called White Replacement and took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, for which he served four years in jail. He was pardoned by US President Donald Trump on the first day of his second presidency in 2025. He has said he and Allen plan to target other locations in Seattle over the weekend.

How did leaders respond?

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, who represents Seattle in the US House of Representatives, condemned the actions, calling the storming of a peaceful Diwali celebration where children were performing "pure hate and bigotry". The Coalition of Hindus of North America also condemned the disruption. Indian-American community groups said the incident showed why vigilance against hate aimed at Hindu Americans remains necessary, even as Diwali is celebrated openly across the United States.

Why does this incident matter for the diaspora?

The disruption came on the same weekend that Indian diplomatic missions across the United States and Canada were holding Diwali programmes with the diaspora, and just after President Trump marked Diwali at the White House with Indian tech entrepreneur Vishal Gondal and chef Vikas Mehta. It also comes amid wider concern about hostility towards Hindu religious institutions in the US. ANI reported that a 19-year-old suspect, Alexandros Paporakis, was recently arrested over an alleged plan to target a Hindu temple near Chicago.

For Punjabi and Indian families in North America, Diwali is one of the biggest public celebrations of the year, and the Seattle incident is a reminder that even joyful community festivals can become targets. Community leaders have urged people attending Diwali events to stay alert and to report hate incidents to the police.

Who disrupted the Diwali celebration in Seattle?

Far-right activist Jake Lang and fellow protester Thomas Allen, carrying placards that read "Deport All Dot Heads" and "Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians".

What did leaders say about the incident?

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal called it pure hate and bigotry, and the Coalition of Hindus of North America also condemned the disruption.

What is Jake Lang known for?

He took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, served four years in jail, and was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025.