November 8, 2026

A peaceful Diwali celebration at the Seattle Center Armory was disrupted on Saturday, 7 November, when two conservative activists entered the event carrying openly racist and Hinduphobic signs.

According to Jonathan Choe, who filmed the incident, Jake Lang and Thomas Allen entered the venue where families and children were celebrating the Festival of Lights. They held large blue signs that read:

  • “Deport All Dot Heads”
  • “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians”

Video footage shows the men walking through the crowd, holding American flags, and confronting attendees. The situation quickly turned chaotic as community members and bystanders intervened. ANI reported that Lang was "physically checked" by some attendees and that the attempt to disrupt the celebration did not succeed. Lang later claimed on X that his group had been "ASSAULTED by dozens of ANTIFA & HINDUS" at the festival, in a post that also attacked Hindus over the Texas election results.

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Jonathan Choe of the Discovery Institute captured the incident live and later spoke with both men. According to Choe, Lang and Allen claimed they were concerned about “American culture being overrun by false idol worshippers and H1-B fraudsters.” The activists also stated they plan to target other locations in the city over the weekend but have not released further details, citing fears of retaliation.

Here is the original post and video:

> 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."

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> 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

> View original post and video

Community Response

The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) issued a community alert describing the incident as “Hinduphobic bigotry on open display.” CoHNA noted that children were performing at the event and praised those who removed the activists. The organization urged Hindu families in the Seattle area to remain vigilant and encouraged sharing the alert with local law enforcement. (HinduTone has not independently viewed the CoHNA alert.)

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Jake Lang took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, served four years in jail and was pardoned by President Donald Trump in January 2025, according to ANI. He runs an organisation called "White Replacement" and has a history of far-right activism.

Why This Matters

Diwali is a festival of light, prosperity, and the victory of good over evil. It is celebrated by millions of Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and others across the United States, including a large and contributing Indian-American community in Washington state.

Targeting a family-friendly cultural and religious celebration with racial slurs and conspiracy theories about “Hindu replacement” crosses a clear line. Such rhetoric echoes older forms of anti-immigrant and anti-religious hatred and has no place in a pluralistic society.

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Indian Americans have made significant contributions to technology, medicine, entrepreneurship, and public life in the United States. Framing legal immigration pathways or cultural celebration as existential threats is both factually false and dangerous.

Call to Action for the Hindu Community

  • Stay alert at public Diwali events this weekend in the Seattle area.
  • Document any further disruptions and report them to Seattle Police and the FBI.
  • Share accurate information and avoid amplifying the agitators.
  • Support organizations like CoHNA that advocate for Hindu Americans.

Hindutone stands firmly with the Hindu community in Seattle and across the diaspora. Light always overcomes darkness. We will continue to report on developments and defend the right of every Hindu to celebrate Diwali in peace and dignity.

Sources

  • Jonathan Choe (@choeshow), original post and video on X
  • ANI report, published by The Tribune, 8 November 2026
  • Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) community alert (not independently viewed by HinduTone)

Related: Diwali 2026 in Seattle and Washington and How to respond to Hinduphobia with wisdom and strength.

More for Hindus in the USA: temples, community and festivals in the USA.