Five US lawmakers and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson have condemned the disruption of a Diwali celebration by protesters carrying anti-Hindu and anti-Indian signs at the Seattle Centre Armoury on 8 November 2026. The incident, which occurred during Diwali: Lights of India — a free public cultural festival featuring Indian music, dance and performances — has drawn widespread bipartisan condemnation across the United States.

What Happened at the Seattle Centre

According to the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), two individuals identified as Jake Lang and Thomas Allen interrupted the Diwali celebration while children were performing on stage. The protesters reportedly carried signs containing a racial slur against Indians and alleged that Hindus were replacing Christians. Other attendees at the venue removed the two men, CoHNA said.

CoHNA expressed particular concern about the disruption's impact on children present at the event, and warned community members to remain vigilant, noting that the protesters had reportedly announced plans to target other Diwali celebrations as well.

Mayor Wilson and Lawmakers Speak Out

Mayor Katie Wilson, in a post on X, condemned 'the hateful nonsense from bigots who interrupted a beautiful Diwali ceremony at Seattle Centre,' adding that she and her daughter had celebrated Diwali with friends on the same evening.

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat whose district covers much of Seattle, wrote on X: 'I am beyond disgusted by this vile and racist display. Diwali is an important holiday, and our community should feel safe to celebrate it. This hateful display has no place in our city or this country.'

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois said Diwali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, 'but that victory is not automatic,' adding that the anti-Indian and anti-Hindu slogans demonstrated how much work remained to confront discrimination. He urged people to 'stamp out this hate directed toward Hindus and anyone.'

Congressman Shri Thanedar of Michigan called the disruption 'utterly disgusting' and said such conduct 'has no place in America.' Congresswoman Deborah Ross of North Carolina described the 'racist, anti-Indian protests at a Diwali event in Seattle' as 'despicable' and said they must be 'unequivocally condemned.' Washington Congressman Adam Smith said he was 'deeply appalled by the blatant racism at the Diwali celebration in Seattle,' asserting that everyone should be free to celebrate their holidays.

Broader Community Condemnation

Condemnation extended beyond elected officials. The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) also condemned the episode on Sunday as racist, xenophobic and anti-Hindu. Its executive director, Imraan Siddiqi, said: 'Hate speech, xenophobic harassment, and targeting of minority religious groups run counter to the fundamental values of our region and nation.'

Washington State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad said Hindu Americans, South Asians and others should be able to celebrate their faith and traditions without intimidation or harassment. Indian-American businessman Ajay Jain Bhutoria also condemned the targeting of Hindu Americans and Indian immigrants with racial slurs and conspiracy rhetoric.

Context and What Comes Next

This incident arrives amid a broader national conversation in the United States about rising hate crimes targeting minority religious and ethnic communities. The involvement of five sitting members of Congress signals that the episode has crossed from a local disturbance into a matter of federal political concern. Notably, the cross-community condemnation — from Muslim civil rights groups to Democratic Party officials — underscores how widely the action has been viewed as an attack on pluralist values.

CoHNA's warning that the protesters intend to disrupt further Diwali events means law enforcement and community organisers across US cities are now on alert, raising questions about security at upcoming cultural celebrations.