NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Seattle, WA, November 8, 2026: A Diwali celebration in Seattle was disrupted Saturday when two far-right activists entered the venue carrying signs with racist and anti-Hindu messages, prompting attendees to confront them and remove them from the premises. The incident, which reportedly occurred while children were performing, has sparked condemnation from Hindu American organizations and elected officials, along with concerns about threats to disrupt other Diwali celebrations.
The incident occurred during Diwali: Lights of India, a public cultural festival at Seattle Center Armory on November 7. The family-friendly event featured Indian classical dance, music, cultural demonstrations, art workshops and activities for children.
The protesters were identified as Jake Lang and Thomas Allen. Videos circulated on social media showed the men carrying American flags and placards bearing slogans including “Deport All Dotheads” and “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians.”
Several attendees confronted the protesters, who were subsequently removed from the venue. Lang later posted videos and photographs of the confrontation on social media and alleged that he had been assaulted. That allegation has not been independently verified.
Lang, a far-right activist who participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, faced federal criminal charges related to the riot and spent approximately four years in custody before receiving a presidential pardon in January 2025. He has since continued his activism around immigration and what he describes as the replacement of Christians in the United States.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), a Hindu American advocacy organization, condemned the disruption in a statement sent to NRI Pulse, warning that the incident reflected a broader pattern of hostility toward Hindus.
“Hindus are in the midst of their biggest festival. Yet a Diwali celebration in Seattle, where children were performing, saw Hinduphobic bigotry on open display,” the organization said.
CoHNA identified Lang and Allen as the individuals responsible and criticized their use of derogatory slogans targeting Hindus.
“Thankfully, there were others who didn’t tolerate this and removed them from the premises. But the threat remains, since these ‘activists’ have announced plans to disrupt other Diwali celebrations,” the statement said.
The organization also drew attention to the historical significance of the slur “dotheads,” recalling the violence and intimidation experienced by Indian Americans in New Jersey during the 1980s.
CoHNA said the language echoed that used by the Dotbusters, a racist gang that targeted South Asians, particularly those wearing bindis, in the Jersey City area. The group became notorious for harassment and violent attacks against Indian immigrants.
The advocacy organization cited a 2023 report by the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI), which it said had warned that anti-Hindu hostility circulating online could eventually translate into real-world violence.
“In 2023, a NCRI report had warned about the deliberate fomentation of anti-Hindu hate and Hinduphobia in the online world and warned hate at such levels could migrate into the physical world. The years since have proved them right,” CoHNA said.
The organization also pointed to what it described as a pattern of attacks and threats against Hindu temples across the country, including an alleged foiled mass shooting. CoHNA cited 14 such incidents, although the figure and the circumstances of each case have not been independently verified.
“We have seen an endless flow of vitriolic posts, memes and images online trying to otherize Hindus,” the statement said, adding that Hindu festivals and traditions had increasingly become targets of hostility.
CoHNA criticized what it described as an inadequate response from authorities to incidents targeting Hindus.
“Unfortunately the response from authorities has been slow or lacking, with a reluctance to even name or call out the anti-Hindu bigotry driving many of these actions,” the organization said.
“The first step to tackling a problem is the step of calling it out and naming it correctly. The Hindu community is traumatized at these repeated attacks,” the statement concluded.
The disruption also drew condemnation from U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Pramila Jayapal, whose congressional district includes much of Seattle.
“I am beyond disgusted by this vile and racist display. Diwali is an important holiday and our community should feel safe to celebrate it,” Jayapal said, adding that such hatred had no place in Seattle or the United States.
Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi also condemned the incident, calling for an end to hatred directed at Hindus. Indian American community leader Ajay Jain Bhutoria described the protesters’ actions as racism and said Americans should be free to celebrate their cultural and religious traditions without intimidation.
Speaking outside the venue, Lang defended the demonstration as an exercise of First Amendment rights and repeated claims about Christians being replaced by Hindus.
The festival, organized by Northwest SHARE as part of Seattle Center’s Festál series, was intended to bring communities together through Indian music, dance, food and cultural activities. Ahead of the event, festival producer and director Latha Sambamurti described the celebration as one of culture and belonging, welcoming people from all backgrounds to experience Diwali.
The incident occurred as Hindus around the world celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Lights, which symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.
HAPPENING NOW: Absolutely chaotic scene as conservative activists Jake Lang and Thomas Allen storm a Diwali Hindu celebration at the Seattle Center Armory. They held signs that read, "Deport All Dot Heads" and "Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians." I just spoke to both men who say they are concerned about American culture being overrun by false idol worshippers and H1-B fraudsters. Lang and Allen say they will be targeting other locations in the city this weekend. They have yet to announce details of their plans due to possible retaliation by Antifa and other far-left activists. Stay tuned. @JakeLang|@Tommy4Trump420
— Jonathan Choe (@choeshow) November 8, 2026
