• Four people, including the leader of a group of self-described satanists, were arrested Friday after the group held a Black Mass at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. The event was met with several hundred counter-protesters, one of whom was punched by Satanic Grotto leader Michael Stewart when he tried pulling a script from Stewart’s hands.
• The Satanic Grotto had initially obtained a permit to hold its demonstration inside the Statehouse, but Gov. Laura Kelly later moved the event outside following public backlash.
• The event was meant to highlight the separation of church and state, as well as what the Satanic Grotto considers the state’s favoritism toward Christians, who regularly hold prayers and worship meetings inside the government building.

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Four people, including the leader of a group of self-described satanists, were arrested Friday, March 28, after the group held a Black Mass at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. Michael Stewart, head of the Satanic Grotto, was detained after he punched a counter-protestor who attempted to pull a script from his hands.

Black mass met with counter-protestors

According to KCTV5, around 11:30 a.m., Stewart walked into the Capitol, where he was met by Kansas Highway Patrol officers, who informed him that he could not perform any demonstrations. Stewart said he understood and proceeded into the building as Christians and Catholics reportedly prayed over him, reciting the Hail Mary. As he reached the rotunda, Stewart raised his arms to the sky and made a dedication to Satan.

Numerous people yelled at Stewart, however, 21-year-old Marcus Schroeder grabbed a script from his hands, at which point Stewart punched Schroeder in the face. Stewart was detained at the scene and Schroeder, according to his family, was arrested sometime after and charged with disorderly conduct.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that earlier in the day, as Stewart was conducting a Black Mass on the steps of the Capitol building, a counter-protester “snuck past barriers separating the various Christian groups and satanists,” so that he could “snatch” a communion wafer from Stewart’s hands. The counter-protester, who was ultimately detained by police, reportedly fell to the ground and Stewart punched him as well.

The separation of church and state

The Satanic Grotto –– which describes itself as a nondenominational satanic church “dedicated to improving our community through fellowship, religious expression, shared education, artistic projects and social activism” –– had organized and received a permit for its event weeks ago. It was billed as an “act of rebellion,” meant to highlight the separation of church and state, as well as what it considers the state’s favoritism toward Christians, who regularly hold prayers and worship meetings inside the government building.

“There is no reason he should be in custody right now. There are literally people praying over there,” Maenad Bee, Stewart’s wife, said of a group of counter-protestors following her husband’s arrest. “That is completely inappropriate. If we have to go outside, so should that group of Catholics who are praying right now.”

Governor moves the event outside

While the Satanic Grotto’s event was originally going to be held inside the Statehouse, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly told the group they had to remain outdoors. In a statement released before the event, she said, “There are more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols.” However, she added that as governor, “I also have a duty to protect protesters’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, regardless of how offensive or distasteful I might find the content to be.”

Both chambers of the Kansas Legislature had voted to condemn the Satanic Grotto’s Black Mass, with Senate President Ty Masterson saying the First Amendment does not cover offensive speech or violations of law, in defending the lawmakers’ decision to bar the group from gathering inside the state building.

Roughly 30 members of the Satanic Grotto had gathered for the event, while several hundred Christians gathered in protest.

“The Bible says Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, so when we dedicate a state to Satan, we’re dedicating it to death,” said Jeremiah Hicks, a Kansas City pastor.

Two people who entered the Statehouse with Stewart –– Jocelyn Frazee, 32, and Sean Anderson, 50 –– were also arrested for unlawful assembly. Stewart was released Friday afternoon on a $1,000 bond.