Seattle: Far-right American activist Jake Lang attempted to disrupt a Diwali celebration in Seattle on Saturday (local time), but was physically stopped by attendees. Lang and other protesters were carrying signboards that read, ‘Deport All Dot Heads’.
Posting pictures of the attempted disruption, Lang launched an abusive tirade on X against Hindus, claiming they were responsible for Democratic victories in Texas.
In his post on X, Lang said, “We were just ASSAULTED by dozens of ANTIFA & HINDUS @ the Seattle Diwali Festival!!!! I guess they didn’t like our ‘Deport All Dot Heads’ sign!!! Hindus flipped Texas blue. '#$%' them.”
We were just ASSAULTED by dozens of ANTIFA & HINDUS @ the Seattle Diwali Festival!!!!I guess they didn’t like our “Deport All Dot Heads” sign!!! 🇮🇳✈️Hindus flipped Texas blue. Fuck them. https://t.co/mS3oBdEAYZ
Lang, who runs an organisation called White Replacement, was a participant in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, for which he spent four years in prison. He was pardoned by US President Donald Trump on the first day of his second presidency in 2025.
The attempted disruption came shortly after Trump marked Diwali at the White House with Indian tech entrepreneur Vishal Gondal, chef Vikas Mehta and others at the Oval Office. During the festivities, Trump participated in a ceremonial diya-lighting and was gifted a copy of the Hanuman Chalisa.
In Washington state, Governor Bob Ferguson celebrated Diwali at the legislative building along with the Consul General of India.
Posting on X, Ferguson said, “We had an incredible celebration of Diwali inside the Legislative Building this week with the Consulate General of India and Sen. Dhingra, and I proclaimed this Sunday to be Diwali, the Festival of Lights in Washington State. Washington State is proud to be home to one of the largest communities of Indian Americans in the country. During the previous decade, we had the fastest-growing Indian American population in the entire country. And we have seen this community contribute so much to our state.”
Diwali celebrations were also held at the Washington State Capitol in Olympia. State Senator Manka Dhingra joined the celebrations as leaders recognised the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the Indian-American community to Washington state.
The attempted disruption also comes just days after another right-wing activist allegedly planned an attack on a Hindu temple near Chicago. A 19-year-old suspect, identified as Alexandros Paporakis, was arrested following an investigation into threats of a potential mass shooting at the temple. Paporakis, who reportedly professed Nazi ideology, had allegedly outlined a plan to carry out the attack.
Meanwhile, Lang has claimed that the US midterm election results, which saw Democrats make gains in states including Texas and Kansas, were rigged. Calling for a protest ahead of the anniversary of the January 6 attack, Lang said, “On January 3rd 2027, Christian Crusaders will descend upon the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to PROTEST the Certification of the RIGGED Midterms!!!!”