August 31, 2026 Security Bulletin:
Coordinated Harassment Campaigns Targeting Muslims
Overall Assessment
We assess that the threat of physical attacks against Muslims is ELEVATED. This assessment is informed by recent mosque vandalisms, an attempted mosque shooting, coordinated harassment campaigns in Michigan, Minnesota, and California, as well as intimidation concerns in states like Arkansas.
Note: These incidents only represent threats/attacks that have been reported in the United States. The majority of hate crimes against Muslims are never reported, therefore the true number of hate crimes is likely much higher. We encourage everyone to report every incident, regardless of its size or severity.
What is a Coordinated Harassment Campaign
CSTP uses the term “coordinated harassment campaign” as an analytical framework to describe a recurring pattern observed in multiple jurisdictions involving far-right provocateurs and affiliated media actors.
The pattern is typically targeting a vulnerable or minority community, then an outside activist or media figure enters the community, there is an escalation or confrontation, the incident is amplified through social media, and lastly there may be calls for federal intervention, including immigration enforcement, law-enforcement action, surveillance, or expanded investigations.
Known Provocateurs
Provocateurs and DOJ in Michigan
Michigan has increasingly become a target for far-right activists seeking to amplify anti-Muslim rhetoric, challenge the state’s electoral processes, and provoke tensions within Muslim communities.
August 2, 2026: Nate Friedman released a documentary on the “islamic takeover of Michigan”.
August 3, 2026: Jake Lang reportedly confronted a Muslim gathering in Dearborn, Michigan, after which police intervened and an individual accused of attacking Lang was arrested. One of the individuals arrested was Abbas Abdoush who was taken into ICE custody.
August 4, 2026: James O’Keefe said his team was filming in Detroit and claimed it had documented election crimes and admissions of voter fraud before publicly presenting verified evidence.
August 4, 2026: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sent election monitors to Detroit, Hamtramck, Lansing, and East Lansing, while Michigan officials challenged the stated rationale and warned of possible partisan targeting.
August 18, 2026: Lang staged a “Christian Crusader March on Dearborn”, where he went to the Dearborn City Council meeting and spoke about how Muslims were taking over the city and should go back to their countries. He called for President Trump to send ICE to Dearborn.
Provocateurs and DOJ in Minnesota
On August 11, 2026, James O’Keefe and Cam Higby entered Minneapolis polling booth in Muslim garb. On August 11, 2026 the DOJ sent 20 election monitors to Hennepin and Ramsey counties in Minnesota. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon stated that both counties declined the DOJ’s request to place monitors inside polling stations. This decision was made after hearing concerns from residents about safety and presence of federal officials in their neighborhoods. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office monitored the federal observers to ensure they allowed eligible voters the right to vote.
Harassment Campaign in Los Angeles
Los Angeles-based activist and cameraman Eoin Richard Connolly, associated with Jake Lang, organized a “Take Back LA: Free Speech Rally” on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at the Islamic Center of Southern California. He had said, “march to the Southern California Islamic Center to stand against the war on AMERICANS by Jihadist sympathizers and Antifa Terrorists.” The rally flyer featured a Jerusalem Cross which has been appropriated in recent years by some Christian nationalists, white supremacist, and far-right movements. Connolly ended up cancelling the rally and moving it to Precious Blood Catholic Church where he was forcibly removed from.
Islamophobic Provocateur Jake Lang’s Anti-Mamdani March
On September 11, 2026, Jake Lang will lead a “March on Mamdani” in New York City with Pastor James Manning and Christian Crusaders. This will likely mimic his previous demonstrations.
Arkansas Mosques and Communities Targeted by Amy Mek
On March 31, 2026, Amy Mek published an article about Little Rock being conquered by Muslims, targeting the Islamic Center for Human Excellence (ICHE), the Islamic Center of Little Rock (ICLR), and The Huda Academy in Arkansas. Since then, members of the community have faced further targeting, including being falsely labeled as “Islamic operatives.” Mosques in the area have also increased their security measures due to heightened concerns about their safety.
Mosque Vandalisms and Threat of Violence
August 3, 2026: Islamic Community Center in Cincinnati vandalized and burglarized for the third time.
August 7, 2026: Police arrested Giovanni Pimienta, 19, who had posted a 61-page manifesto where he said he would “purchase an AR-15 and shoot up a mosque”. The manifesto praised the actions of Caleb Vasquez who had perpetrated the attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
August 15, 2026: Hate graffiti was found on the construction site of a Long Island mosque.
Key Takeaways from August Security Webinar
Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin discussed Jake Lang’s march in Dearborn and emphasized the importance of mosques maintaining communication with their local law enforcement, along with other recommendations and resources to enhance community safety.
Recommendation: Reach out to local law enforcement to inquire about the Volunteer Reserve Officer Program
Brother Ibrahim Omar, Senior Manager of Operations & Administration at the Islamic Society of Boston (ISB), shared his mosque’s experience applying for and receiving the NSGP grant, including issues they encountered and recommendations for mosques interested in applying.
If you would like to access the recording to this webinar or partner with a masajid that has applied for the federal and state grants, reach out to [email protected].
MPAC-CSTP Incident Tracker
MPAC-CSTP will continue to closely monitor developments and provide updates as needed. We encourage you to report any incident through the link below.
Why should you share incidents? For example, if an individual leaves a message to attack a mosque, we can use artificial intelligence tools to compare voice patterns with other security incident reports to identify whether the same individual is involved and possibly assist with identification efforts.