DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) - On Thursday, the Satanic Temple of Iowa announced that their display at the Iowa Capitol had been significantly damaged.
The controversial display, which Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds called “objectionable,” featured a ram’s head covered with mirrors on a mannequin before being damaged.
Organizers say it’s a symbol of their right to religious freedom.
The Satanic Temple of Iowa posted the following message on their Facebook page:
“This morning, we were informed by authorities that the Baphomet statue in our holiday display was destroyed beyond repair. We are proud to continue our holiday display for the next few days that we have been allotted.
We ask that for safety, visitors travel together and use the 7 Tenets as a reminder for empathy, in the knowledge that justice is being pursued the correct way, through legal means.
KCCI has reported that 35-year-old Michael Cassidy of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with Criminal Mischief in the 4th Degree. He has since been released.
Solve et Coagula! Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!”
The whole point. To avoid violating 1A, they can’t discriminate regarding religion, so if they permit religious displays they have to permit them for any religion that wants one, and grant them equal treatment.
So if some Jews and a Wiccan group wanted to join in and have a Chanukah display and a Yule display those would have to be permitted as well. Given choice I’d rather instead of TST showing up ot piss off Christians that every minority religious group in the state demand a display because that would make it easier to kill the whole program when instead of two displays it becomes an unreasonable number to deal with.