A pacesetter of a Satanist group and three others had been arrested Friday after a battle broke out contained in the Kansas Statehouse after the chief allegedly tried to carry a Black Mass within the rotunda.
Michael Stewart, head of the Kansas Metropolis-area Satanic Grotto, was arrested after video confirmed him punching a counter-protester who tried to take his script.
Kansas Freeway Patrol officers tackled and handcuffed him as he yelled, “Hail, Satan!”
He was later launched on $1,000 bond for disorderly conduct and illegal meeting.
Stewart’s nonprofit group describes itself as an “independent and nondenominational Satanic church.”
In accordance with Stewart, the occasion initially drew little consideration till allegations surfaced that he stole consecrated bread from an area Catholic Church to be used within the Black Mass.
Stewart and about 30 of his group’s members gathered outdoors the statehouse to protest what they referred to as favoritism towards Christians.
A whole bunch of Christian counter-protesters sang hymns and urged them to “accept Jesus.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly quickly banned protests inside for the day after Catholic teams pressured her to cease the Black Mass.
Catholic leaders referred to as the occasion “a despicable act of anti-Catholic bigotry.”
Kelly issued her order March 12, which utilized to Stewart and his followers.
“There are more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols,” Kelly stated in an announcement in regards to the occasion.
Pastor Jeremiah Hicks of The Treatment Church in Kansas Metropolis, Kansas, warned towards permitting the occasion.
“The Bible says Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, so when we dedicate a state to Satan, we’re dedicating it to death,” he declared.
Satanic Grotto followers argued the occasion was about free speech. Stewart’s spouse, Maenad Bee, instructed reporters, “He’s only exercising his First Amendment rights.”
Two different followers of Stewart, Jocelyn Frazee, 32, and Sean Anderson, 50, had been additionally arrested for illegal meeting.
Frazee had no bond set, and Anderson’s bond data was unavailable on the time of publication.
Marcus Schroeder, 21, a Christian counter-protester who tried to take Stewart’s script, was additionally arrested for disorderly conduct.
His bond was set at $1,000.
Karla Delgado, who attended together with her three younger kids, admitted she tried to cease Stewart’s Satanic ceremony.
“When we saw nobody stopping him, we tried to do it,” she stated.
Within the chaos, her 4-year-old daughter was knocked down.
Stewart stated his group scheduled the occasion considering lawmakers can be in session. He hinted they could return.
“Maybe ‘un-baptisms,’ right here in the Capitol,” he stated.
The Satanic Grotto didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
