Washington. A case of anti-Hindu and racist demonstration has come to light during the Diwali festival in the American city of Seattle. Hard-right activist Jake Lang and his colleagues arrived at the Diwali event and waved posters with slogans like 'Stop replacing Christians with Hindus' and 'Deport all dotheads'. This incident has been strongly condemned by American MP Pramila Jaipal. He said that the Indian-American community has every right to celebrate their festivals without any fear and intimidation. Such hateful demonstrations have no place in Seattle or America.
Pramila Jaipal expressed displeasure on ex
Pramila Jayapal, a member of the US House of Representatives from the Seventh Congressional District of Washington State, while reacting to the viral video on social media platform X, called the demonstration racist and vulgar. He wrote that he hates this kind of performance very much. Diwali is an important festival and the Indian-American community has the right to celebrate it in a safe environment. He made it clear that such activities spreading hatred cannot be accepted in the city and the country.
Entered the Diwali program and raised controversial slogans
In a video viral on social media, Jake Lang and some of his friends are seen entering the Diwali celebrations carrying posters with anti-Hindu slogans. At that time, children were giving cultural performances in the program and people were celebrating the festival with their families. The people present there opposed the slogans of the protesters and asked them to leave the venue. In the video, some people are also seen pushing the protesters out.
However, Lang later claimed that attendees of the event, particularly Antifa and those from the Hindu community, attacked him and his companions. He alleged that while protesting against the posters of the protesters, people beat him up and broke their flag. In his social media post, Lang also accused Hindus of supporting the Democratic Party in American politics.
Speaking to media outside the venue, Lang described his protest as a constitutional right. He said that he was expressing his views under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. He also claimed that some Indians and people with liberal ideology beat him up.
Indian-American community also condemned
Indian-American businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also strongly criticized the incident. Calling it an example of hatred and bigotry, he said there should be no place in America for racist comments targeting Hindus and immigrants of Indian origin.
Bhutoria said that it is highly objectionable to enter a peaceful Diwali celebration and raise slogans like 'drive out all the dotheads' and 'stop replacing Christians with Hindus'. Diwali is a festival of lights, family and happiness and not an occasion to scare or intimidate anyone. He appealed to stand united against racism and give all communities the freedom to celebrate their culture and traditions.
Hindu organization issued community alert
Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) has also issued a community alert regarding the incident. The organization has appealed to the people of the Hindu community living in Seattle and surrounding areas to remain cautious during Diwali celebrations.
According to CoHNA, Jake Lang and Thomas Allen arrived at a Hindu Diwali celebration amid children's cultural performances and raised objectionable slogans. The organization said that after the intervention of the people present there, the protesters were thrown out of the venue. Calling this an example of anti-Hindu bigotry, CoHNA feared that these activists may plan to disrupt other Diwali celebrations as well.
Who is Jake Lang?
Jake Lang's name came up in the case of the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He was convicted in this case and spent nearly four years in jail. In January 2025, on the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump pardoned several accused related to the Capitol violence, including Lang. Lange has also been linked to groups and activities associated with white nationalist ideology.