A Mississippi man has been charged for allegedly vandalizing the Satanic Temple of Iowa’s holiday display located in the state’s Capitol building.
Earlier this month, The Satanic Temple (TST) sparked controversy when it put up the display that featured Satanic symbols including a ram’s head covered with mirror-like material placed on a mannequin dressed in a dark-red cloak. It held a pentangle displayed with red and black ribbons. The figure stood behind a box or altar containing rows of electric candles featuring the TST logo.Â
TST organizers were planning to take the display down Friday morning, but found it “destroyed beyond repair.”
Michael Cassidy, 35, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and has since been released from jail, The Iowa Department of Public Safety reported.Â
As CBN News reported, Lucien Greaves, a spokesman and co-founder of TST, said previously the display was a symbol of the right to religious freedom.Â
But Gov. Kim Reynolds called it “absolutely objectionable.”
“Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple’s display in the Capitol absolutely objectionable,” Gov. Reynolds said in a statement. “In a free society, the best response to objectionable speech is more speech, and I encourage all those of faith to join me
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