A Diwali celebration at a public cultural event in Seattle was disrupted on Saturday after two activists entered the venue carrying placards with anti-Hindu messages, including calls to deport Hindus from the United States. The incident prompted objections from attendees and drew condemnation from US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and several Indian-American community organisations.
Jake Lang just stormed a Diwali Hindu celebration at the Seattle Center Armory. They held signs that read, "Deport All Dot Heads"🤣 https://t.co/q30bKDAN2U
— Derrick Evans (@DerrickEvans4WV) November 8, 2026
Activists disrupt Seattle Diwali festival during cultural performances
The incident took place on Saturday at the Seattle Center Armory, where the Diwali: Lights of India programme was being held. The two activists, identified as Jake Lang and Thomas Allen, appeared near the stage carrying American flags and placards bearing the messages "Deport All Dot Heads" and "Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians".
Footage shared on social media showed the men at the venue while a cultural performance was under way. Several attendees confronted the protesters, who were subsequently escorted out.
The free festival was scheduled to run from noon to 6 pm as part of Seattle Center Festál, a series of cultural events organised in partnership with local communities. The programme included classical Indian music, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Kathak performances, art displays and family activities.
Pramila Jayapal and Indian-American groups condemn protest
US congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned the protest in a statement posted on X on Sunday. She described the display as racist and said people should be able to celebrate religious occasions without feeling unsafe.
"Diwali is an important holiday and our community should feel safe to celebrate it," she said, adding that the protesters' conduct had no place in Seattle or elsewhere in the United States.
Indian-American businessman and former White House adviser Ajay Jain Bhutoria also criticised the demonstration. In a social media post, he said the placards targeted Hindu Americans and Indian immigrants through racial abuse and allegations about their presence in the country. He called for the community's right to celebrate its traditions to be respected.
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) issued an advisory for Seattle and nearby areas. The organisation said children had been performing at the celebration when the men arrived and that other attendees had intervened. It also urged community members to remain alert, saying the activists had indicated that they might disrupt other Diwali events.
Another advocacy group, HinduPACT, urged members of the community to inform local law enforcement agencies about any suspicious or hateful activities.
Jake Lang makes allegations after confrontation
Lang later shared photographs and comments about the incident on X. He alleged that the protesters had been attacked by people attending the gathering and blamed Hindus for Democratic electoral gains in Texas.
Lang previously participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. He spent years in custody before receiving a pardon from US President Donald Trump in January 2025.
The incident in Seattle took place amid Diwali celebrations organised by Indian-American communities across Washington state. A day before the festival, Trump hosted a Diwali ceremony at the White House, while Washington Governor Bob Ferguson attended celebrations organised by the Indian consulate in Seattle.
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 "'Deport them all': Trump-supporting anti-Hindu protesters disrupt Seattle Diwali celebration; US lawmaker condemns incident")
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