Seattle Cat Convention Faces Unfounded Accusations from Activist

Organizers of a Seattle cat convention expressed confusion when Jake Lang, a pardoned January 6 defendant, arrived at the event. Lang accused the family-friendly gathering of being a ‘furry’ event that sexualizes children.

The term ‘furries’ refers to people who enjoy anthropomorphic animal characters, sometimes involving costumes known as fursuits. While the furry fandom can involve adult content, it is not inherently a sexual fetish.

The Sea-Meow Convention stated, ‘We honestly were quite confused when he showed up, shouting outside of the event. We did not know who the group was or why they showed up.’

Video footage posted by Lang, showing his protest, quickly went viral. The video depicted Lang accusing participants of promoting ‘homosexual and transsexual ideas.’ The clip garnered over 6.5 million views on X (formerly Twitter).

Convention organizers explained that the costumes seen at the event were part of a cat-themed costume contest. An X Community Note clarified that the convention focused on real cats, adoption, education, and activities suitable for children.

On the Sea-Meow Convention website, the event is described as a ‘festival of all things cats’ aimed at bringing together cat enthusiasts and supporting feline organizations.

Lang’s Arrival and Accusations

Lang posted his video on November 8, claiming to have disrupted what he called a ‘FURRY CONVENTION,’ aimed at children and allegedly involving inappropriate content. He faced attendees, who clarified the true nature of the event.

The footage showed Lang speaking with attendees wearing feline-themed costumes. Event organizers confirmed a cosplay competition, and the schedule showed feline-themed activities. There is no evidence supporting Lang’s claims of sexual activities at the convention.

Event organizers reiterated the convention’s purpose as a celebration of cats, including local shelter participation, and highlighted family-friendly activities. A two-day festival advertised numerous vendors, workshops, adoptable animals, bingo, and face painting.

Convention Seeks Apology

Organizers accused Lang of neglecting basic research and proposed the confrontation might be for social media engagement. They questioned Lang’s motivations, suggesting he was either unaware or posing as a conservative activist.

The Sea-Meow Convention released a statement imploring Lang to apologize if he truly identifies as a Christian man, emphasizing the disruption occurred in a family-friendly setting.

Lang’s Legal Background

Federal prosecutors charged Lang, whose full name is Edward Jacob Lang, with crimes related to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Lang pleaded not guilty to charges including civil disorder and assaulting officers. On January 20, 2025, Trump instructed the Justice Department to seek dismissals of pending cases and pardoned those convicted.