Rep. Lisa Davis Condemns Jake Lang Protest at Palestine Fest in Bridgeview (Bridgeview, IL) — State Rep. Lisa Davis, D-Chicago, is condemning the appearance of far-right activist Jake Lang at a protest outside Palestine Fest in Bridgeview, saying his rhetoric has no place in the community or in public discourse.
Palestine Fest, held at SeatGeek Stadium, brought members of the Palestinian American community together to celebrate their culture, food and traditions. Lang’s presence outside the event prompted criticism from Davis, who accused the activist of using the gathering to promote racist and anti-Muslim views.
In a statement, Davis said the festival should have provided an opportunity for Palestinian Americans to celebrate their heritage without being subjected to hateful rhetoric.
“Palestine Fest is a day for the Palestinian American community to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of its culture, food and traditions,” Davis said. “It should not be an opportunity for racists and Islamophobes like Jake Lang to spew hate in an attempt to demean others, incite hostility and stoke fear in our community.”
Davis also pointed to Lang’s history of making statements associated with white supremacist and extremist ideology. She said Lang has publicly identified himself as a Nazi and white supremacist and has advocated for removing people who are not white or Christian from the United States.
The state representative further accused Lang and his followers of making offensive comments targeting Black Americans during an event outside the 2026 BET Awards. Davis said those incidents demonstrate that Lang’s rhetoric extends beyond criticism of a single community.
“His history and actions have made it clear that this is not about just one community, nor is it about legitimate criticism or policy debate,” Davis said.
Davis also referenced Lang’s involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She criticized President Donald Trump for pardoning Lang for his role in the riot, which followed Trump’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election.
The Jan. 6 attack resulted in injuries to numerous law enforcement officers as a crowd of Trump supporters entered the Capitol while Congress was meeting to certify the 2020 presidential election results. Lang was among those charged in connection with the attack and later received a presidential pardon.
Davis said the controversy surrounding Lang’s appearance should not overshadow the Palestinian American community’s efforts to celebrate its heritage.
She also praised people who participated in peaceful counter-protests outside the festival, saying they demonstrated opposition to the rhetoric associated with Lang.
“In the face of unabashed racial and religious vitriol, I want to recognize the strength of our Palestinian American community and uplift the peaceful counter-protesters who made it clear that Lang was not welcome,” Davis said.
The dispute comes amid continuing political and social tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinian American communities and other groups holding cultural events and demonstrations throughout the Chicago area.
Bridgeview, located in southwest suburban Cook County, has one of the region’s largest Palestinian American populations. The community has long hosted cultural, religious and political events that draw visitors from throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
Davis said protecting the ability of communities to gather and celebrate their heritage without intimidation is an important responsibility for state and local leaders.
“Everyone, including marginalized and minority communities, deserves to live in peace, and racism and white supremacy will never be tolerated in our state,” Davis said.
Rep. Lisa Davis Condemns Jake Lang Protest at Palestine Fest in Bridgeview
