Tensions boiled over during a rally on the Upper East Side led by Jake Lang, a known participant in the January 6 Capitol riots and a controversial figure in far-right circles. The protest, held outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of New York City’s first Muslim mayor, Mayor Mamdani, descended into chaos as opposing groups clashed. Amidst the turmoil, a smoke bomb was thrown, causing panic among the demonstrators who scrambled to find safety.

The event, which took place on Saturday, March 7, 2026, saw both pro- and anti-Muslim protesters engaging in physical altercations, with reports of shoving and kicking. The rally began with Lang hosting a provocative pig roast at a café located on East 88th Street and York Avenue in Manhattan. The choice of food was seen as a deliberate affront to practicing Muslims, who abstain from pork for religious reasons.