US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal Condemns Far-Right Activist's Disruption of Seattle Diwali Event
· World · Hindustan Times, Indian Express, Times of India
US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal condemned far-right activist Jake Lang after he disrupted a Diwali celebration in Seattle, carrying placards with slogans such as "Deport All Dot Heads" and "Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians." Jayapal, who won re-election to the US House from Washington's 7th Congressional District earlier this week, called the demonstration racist and said the Indian-American community should be able to celebrate festivals without fear. Videos posted on social media showed Lang and associates being confronted and physically removed by attendees at the venue. Lang claimed he and his group were assaulted by dozens of "ANTIFA & HINDUS" and defended the protest as a First Amendment exercise against what he described as the replacement of Christians by Hindus in Texas and Washington. Indian-American businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also condemned the incident as an act of bigotry, stating racial slurs targeting Hindus and Indian immigrants have no place in the US.
Why it matters
The incident highlights rising anti-Hindu and anti-immigrant rhetoric targeting the Indian-American community during a major cultural festival, raising concerns about hate-driven disruptions of religious celebrations in the United States.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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