Events over the weekend in New York City should be concerning for everyone living here – but not for the reason you might suspect.

An anti-Muslim protest outside the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on March 7 was disrupted when football-sized explosive devices were thrown into the crowd, allegedly by two teenagers. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, were identified by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as the men who threw the devices into the crowd.

Tisch has confirmed that at least one of the devices contained triacetone triperoxide (TATP), "a dangerous and highly volatile homemade explosive,” and described the attacks as inspired by the Islamic State terrorist organization.

The news media has been – rightfully – focused on the potential harm these IEDs could have caused. Political violence is never the answer, no matter the views being espoused.

But the presence of far-right, Islamophobic protesters in New York City is also deplorable, and failing to get the attention it deserves, regardless of how the protest ended.

Jake Lang doesn't represent New Yorkers

The protest, titled “Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City, Stop New York City Public Muslim Prayer,” was organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang. Lang, a U.S. Capitol rioter arrested and charged with attacking officers on Jan. 6, 2021, with a baseball bat, roasted a pig in front of Gracie Mansion as part of the protest, referencing the fact that observant Muslims don't eat pork for religious reasons.

Lang presumably lives in Florida; he’s running to replace former U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio there. Yet he’s traveled north to spew hate in New York.

Several months ago, Lang visited Minneapolis and threatened to burn a Quran in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood, although he was chased off by anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protesters.

He even made the most of his New York City visit by antagonizing Muslim New Yorkers during a vigil for the late Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, making Islamophobic comments and simulating a sex act on a live goat. Truly a class act.

I’ve attended a handful of protests in favor of President Donald Trump during his court hearings in 2024. The MAGA presence in New York City is lackluster at best.

Lang does not represent New Yorkers – he’s simply a grifter trying to get his 15 minutes of fame while Republicans are in power. It’s ridiculous that he had to travel all the way from Florida to make a point about the first Muslim mayor in New York City.

White supremacist protests in NYC are pathetic, and scary

I’m not the only one who thinks this presence in New York City is concerning. Mamdani released a statement on March 8 referring to Lang as a “white supremacist” whose protest was “rooted in bigotry and racism.”

“Such hate has no place in New York City,” Mamdani said in the statement before condemning the attacks. “It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.”

I started my journalism career in the South during the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. I have also reported from protests held by the Proud Boys and neo-Confederates. Protests should never end in violence, regardless of what side you support.

And while I believe in everyone’s constitutional right to protest, it's pathetic that someone would come all the way from Florida because they’re outraged that New York City has a Muslim mayor. If you don’t live here, it’s quite frankly none of your business.

It’s estimated that there are up to 1 million Muslims living in New York City. That won’t change just because some whiny White supremacist launched a hateful protest here.

The entire weekend was full of chaos, but that chaos could have been avoided if Lang had just stayed in Florida. It doesn't affect his life if New York City elected Mamdani. At the end of the day, Lang is just an outside agitator who wanted to make a statement that doesn't reflect the metropolitan area.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Sara Pequeño on Bluesky: @sarapequeno.bsky.social

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