Chaos erupted on the Upper East Side during an anti-Muslim rally led by Jake Lang, a far-right influencer known for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots. The protest, which took place outside Gracie Mansion, the residence of Mayor Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, descended into disorder when a smoke bomb was hurled, causing demonstrators to scatter in panic.
The rally saw pro- and anti-Muslim protesters engage in physical altercations, with participants shoving and kicking each other. Lang’s protest began with a provocative pig roast at a cafe on East 88th Street and York Avenue, targeting Muslim dietary restrictions against pork consumption.
Lang’s demonstration on Saturday demanded an end to what he perceives as the “Islamification of New York City,” a sentiment intensified by the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Amid heated exchanges at Gracie Mansion, an individual threw a smoke bomb at Lang and his small group of fewer than ten supporters, causing a frantic rush to safety.
Police swiftly apprehended the person responsible for the smoke bomb, taking them into custody.
“They threw a bomb at us!” Lang’s supporters shouted as the suspect was detained by authorities.
Lang and his supporters then ran to a nearby U-haul truck, but were blocked by counter-protesters.
At least four people were in custody, including the smoke bomb thrower, about two hours into the protest.
Before the protest even kicked off, Lang and counter protestors collided at a restaurant on E. 89th St. and York Ave. where Lang had his pig roast. He also paraded out a live goat before he and his supporters marched slowly against a sea of counter protesters down York Ave. to Gracie Mansion.
Counter-protesters banged drums and called Lang and his supporters “Nazis.”
Lang was one of more than 1,500 people pardoned by President Donald Trump after their criminal convictions related to the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.
He has since become a right-ring provocateur, holding pro-ICE demonstration in Minneapolis, where he claimed he was stabbed by a counter demonstrator and was saved by his protective vest.
On Friday night, three people were taken into custody amid a clash between pro-Iranian regime demonstrators, who erected a shrine to the slain Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the former supreme leader of Iran, and anti-Khamenei protesters at Washington Square Park.
The three people arrested were given criminal court summonses and released, an NYPD spokesman said.
Lang briefly showed up in a van during the protest and committed a lewd act directed at the pro-Iranian regime protesters.
Khamenei was assassinated by an Israeli airstrike on Feb. 28 at the outset of a joint Israeli and U.S. operation intended to topple the Iranian government.
President Trump on Friday demanded the “unconditional surrender” of Iran and the installation of “acceptable” leaders as conditions to end the weeklong war with Tehran that has spread across the volatile Middle East.
With Rocco Parascandola and Barry Williams
