Diwali celebrations in Seattle turned into chaos on November 7th. The Seattle Center Armory were holding a festival called Diwali: Lights of India.
The celebrations were stormed by far-right activists, disrupting the event. The activists carried American flags and anti-Hindu placards into the hall.
The placards carried slogans like “Deport All Dot Heads” and “Stop Hindu Replacement of Christians.” This took place while a dance performance was ongoing on the stage.
The activists reportedly aimed to stop American culture being overrun by “false idol worshippers” and “H-1B fraudsters.”
While the activists were escorted out quickly, the incident shows the massive negativity surrounding Indians in the US.
The disrupted program was part of a series of 25 free cultural festivals in Seattle. They draw in nearly 400,000 visitors every year.
The incident has received an overwhelmingly negative response. Many people called the act appalling and disgusting, pointing out that it was done while children were performing on stage.
Many others stated that Hindus are the the most peaceful community in the US. The disruption of a peaceful celebration in a hall without blocking any public roads has given rise to questions on why politics targets them.
Both US lawmakers and Indian-American leaders have condemned the attack. The Coalition of Hindus of North America have also issued a community alert.
This incident show the rising anti-Hindu rhetoric linked to the H-1B debate in the US.
