I felt an overwhelming wave of heartbreak and outrage upon learning about the rally planned by Jake Lang in Minneapolis on August 22, 2026. 

If you’re unfamiliar, he was a January 6th rioter who was pardoned by the President. He has used his freedom to travel the country spreading racist rhetoric and hate and inciting violence. He was even banned from Texas awaiting trial facing a terrorist threat charge.

While creating this petition, I was asked how is this personal. If not me then who?

We are told to be the change we want to see in the world. I want to see an end of white supremacy, anti-blackness and racism being celebrated and accepted in this country.

It’s personal because I care about my country, I care about my fellows and I deeply care about the type of world that all of our children are coming up in.

I care about the people that have been systematically harmed for generations. And it hasn’t gotten better. This has to change. 

This rally, purportedly for 'freedom of speech', was marred by the use of a hateful racial slur prominently displayed across its promotional flyer. Calling it an "n-word slur march", this event is a clear incitement of racism, anti-Blackness, and violence.

This is not about freedom of speech. This is about preventing further harm caused by hate speech and ensuring that communities, especially those of color, are protected from such vitriolic attacks.

Jake Lang is hosting this rally alongside Shiloh Hendrix, a 37-year-old woman, a mom, who was found guilty of disorderly conduct for calling an 8-year-old boy with autism the n-word after he allegedly reached into her diaper bag at a park. 

 This “freedom of speech rally” is a guise for promoting an agenda of hate and division. Jake Lang is an attention monger who has used the prevalence of white supremacy and discrimination to get views and make money. He does not care about America and he does not care about the humans he claims to love as a proclaimed Christian. 

The child, chased and called the "n-word" at a park represents the vulnerable individuals whom we must protect against being forced to endure this cruelty in their communities and on the streets of their home. NO child deserves to be exposed to this. 

It's the responsibility of compassionate citizens across our country to denounce such behavior and halt platforms for hatred. This rally is not just a local issue—it's an attack on human decency and compassion everywhere. The platforming of these events juxtaposes the essence of free speech, turning it instead into a tool for division and intimidation.

This is a call to the authorities in Minneapolis and across the nation to take decisive action. Such gatherings should not be permitted, nor should the people who incite hatred be allowed to freely spread their hate through our communities.

By signing this petition, you are standing up against racial hatred and demanding that our society uphold human dignity and inclusion.

Together, we must ensure that no one in Minneapolis or anywhere else in our nation lives in fear of racially motivated threats. Let's make it clear that hate speech disguised as free speech will not be tolerated or celebrated. 

Please sign this petition and share it to help protect our communities. Change starts with each of us.