An Upper East Side anti-Muslim rally led by Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer Jake Lang erupted into chaos as a massive clash between protesters erupted outside of Gracie Mansion on Saturday — the home of Mayor Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor — and a smoke bomb was thrown, sending demonstrators scrambling for cover.
Pro- and anti-Muslim protesters openly shoved and kicked each other during the Saturday morning protest, which began with Lang holding a pig roast at a cafe on E. 88th St. and York Ave. — a direct slap in the face against practicing Muslims, who aren’t allowed to eat pork.
Saturday’s anti-Muslim protest — with Lang demanding an end to what he sees as the “Islamification of New York City” was fueled by the ongoing war in Iran.
A left-wing activist lights a homemade device before throwing it towards police during a protest in Manhattan on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
A left-wing activist carries a homemade device during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged “Islamification” in front of Gracie Mansion, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
A left-wing activist carries a homemade device during a protest organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang against alleged “Islamification” in front of Gracie Mansion, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
A man is arrested after throwing a hand-made smoke device at right-wing activist Jake Lang and his supporters on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
A homemade smoke device thrown by a left-wing activist towards police during a protest is pictured on the ground on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
A man is arrested after throwing a hand-made smoke device at right-wing activist Jake Lang and his supporters on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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A left-wing activist lights a homemade device before throwing it towards police during a protest in Manhattan on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
During a heated back-and-forth at Gracie Mansion, someone threw a smoke bomb at Lang and his crew, which amounted to less than 10 supporters, sending everyone running.
Cops grabbed the smoke bomb hurler, taking him into custody.
“They threw a bomb at us!” Lang’s supporters screamed as the suspect was handcuffed.
Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer Jake Lang (2nd from right) is pictured on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Barry Williams / New York Daily News)
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.”
An NYPD officer grabs a left-wing activist for trying to block a vehicle carrying right-wing influencer Jake Lang on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)
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.
Police arrest a man on E. 87th St. in Manhattan after an incendiary device was thrown at far-right influencer Jake Lang and his supporters during a protest and counter-protest on the Upper East Side Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Rebecca White / New York Daily News)
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
Supporters of far-right influencer Jake Lang (facing camera) use pepper spray (C) as they face counter-protesters during a protest organized by Lang against alleged “Islamification” in front of Gracie Mansion, New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s official residence, in New York on Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)