Seattle Diwali celebration disrupted by far-right activists with anti-Indian placards

A Diwali celebration in Seattle, Washington, was disrupted after two far-right activists entered the venue carrying placards with anti-Indian and anti-Hindu messages, turning a cultural gathering into a confrontation over racism and religious intolerance in the US.

Jake Lang and Thomas Allen arrived at the Seattle Centre Armoury on Saturday, November 7, carrying American flags and signs demanding the deportation of Indians and alleging a "Hindu takeover of Christian America". The activists interrupted a dance performance during the celebrations and were eventually escorted out of the venue after attendees intervened.

The event, titled Diwali: Lights of India, was part of Seattle Centre Festál, a series of free cultural festivals organised by the Seattle Centre in partnership with community organisations. The November 7 programme featured Indian classical and folk dance performances, music, art workshops and cultural activities.


Videos of the disruption circulated on social media, drawing criticism from political representatives and members of the Indian-American community.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, whose congressional district includes Seattle, condemned the incident and called the display racist.

"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 said.

Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), also expressed concern over the incident. She said she would have dismissed the activists as individuals seeking attention on social media if there had not been a recent threat against a Hindu temple in Chicago.

Shukla added that religious and cultural gatherings now needed security precautions and an exit plan, highlighting concerns about the safety of Hindu-American communities.

Who is Jake Lang?

Lang is known for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He faced 11 federal charges, including allegations of assaulting law enforcement officers using a baseball bat and a stolen riot shield. He was among those covered by President Donald Trump's January 2025 clemency order, which granted pardons to people convicted of offences connected with the Capitol attack and directed the dismissal of pending cases.

Since then, Lang has continued to attract attention through confrontational political demonstrations and social media activity.

Anti-Indian rhetoric and Texas elections

The Seattle incident comes amid growing concerns over anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric in parts of the US, particularly in Texas, where the expansion of Indian-American communities has become a subject of political controversy.

In Frisco, a Dallas suburb with a sizeable Indian-American population, public meetings have seen residents face accusations of contributing to an alleged Indian takeover. H-1B visa holders have also been targeted with claims that foreign workers are taking jobs from American citizens. Hindu temples, including one featuring a large Hanuman statue, have been portrayed by some activists as evidence of a perceived threat to Christian America.

The issue also drew attention during the November 3 midterm elections. Republican candidate Bo French, who had faced criticism over social media posts targeting Indian-Americans and South Asian students, lost the Texas Railroad Commissioner election to Democrat Jon Rosenthal. Democrats also won the Texas governorship, with Gina Hinojosa defeating Republican incumbent Greg Abbott, and captured a US Senate seat through James Talarico's victory over Ken Paxton.

Lang subsequently blamed Hindus for the Republican defeats in Texas, writing on social media that "Hindus flipped Texas blue" and directing an expletive at the community.

Meanwhile, Seattle's congressional representative Jayapal secured re-election from Washington's 7th Congressional District, defeating Republican challenger Nirav Sheth. She received approximately 87.5 per cent of the vote, compared with Sheth's 12.1 per cent.

The Seattle disruption has raised questions about the security of public religious celebrations and the treatment of Indian-American communities amid increasingly visible anti-immigrant rhetoric. Community leaders have called for greater attention to protecting people attending cultural and religious events, while reiterating that Indian-Americans should be able to celebrate their traditions without intimidation.