rights
GOP candidate struggles to burn rainbow flag on top of U-Haul truck while screaming at 2 people
By Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation
· June 2, 2026
· 1 min read
Jake Lang — a racist Republican candidate for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat who was jailed for allegedly assaulting Capitol Police officers during the January 6, 2021, riots — struggled to set two Pride flags on fire outside of the Delaney ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday afternoon while y
Key takeaway Jake Lang — a racist Republican candidate for Florida’s U.
Why this matters
The incident involving Jake Lang, a Republican candidate for Florida's U.S. Senate seat, attempting to burn Pride flags outside the Delaney ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, highlights the ongoing tensions between extremist ideologies and the LGBTQ+ community. Lang's actions, which included struggling to set the flags on fire while yelling at bystanders, demonstrate a blatant disregard for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals. This behavior is particularly concerning given Lang's history of violent behavior, including his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, riots. The fact that Lang is a candidate for public office raises questions about the potential consequences of his extremist views being legitimized and amplified. As the LGBTQ+ community continues to face varying levels of legal protection and social acceptance across different states, incidents like this underscore the need for continued vigilance and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights at the national level.
About this story
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Category: rights ·
Published: June 2, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Jake Lang — a racist Republican candidate for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat who was jailed for allegedly assaulting Capitol Police officers during the January 6, 2021, riots — struggled to set two Pride flags on fire outside of the Delaney ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday afternoon while y
When was this published? This article was first published on June 2, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Daniel Villarreal at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .