Organizers say the Baphomet statue was destroyed.

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!”

  • intensely_human@lemm.eeEnglish
    28·
    11 months ago

    I’m a conservative, and I think people should be equal under the law.

    What are you seeing that makes it seem otherwise?

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
      8·
      11 months ago

      What are you seeing that makes it seem otherwise?

      Satanic display at Iowa Capitol vandalized ‘beyond repair’

      Someone seemed to think it was appropriate to vandalize this display specifically.

      • intensely_human@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        So because someone targeted a specific thing here, that’s unequal, and the inequality must therefore be a core belief of conservatives generally? Is that the line of reasoning here?

        • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
          2·
          11 months ago

          https://apnews.com/article/satanic-temple-display-vandalized-iowa-capitol-199fb41983a3f3a390b7be370214bb64

          The display is permitted by rules that govern religious installations inside the Capitol but has drawn criticism from many conservatives, including presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. A Facebook posting by The Satanic Temple on Thursday said the display, known as a Baphomet statue, “was destroyed beyond repair,” though part of it remains.

          Michael Cassidy, 35, of Lauderdale, Mississippi, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said Friday. He was released after his arrest.

          Cassidy is a Republican who was defeated by Democrat Keith Jackson in Mississippi State House District 45 in November.

          It is possible for someone to be on the Conservative side of the political spectrum and still be a reasonable person who respects equality. It is not possible for a reasonable person who respects equality to support the Republican party.

      • Schadrach@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        It’s a misdemeanor vandalism charge, odds are he’s a vaguely attractive white guy with no priors so of course they let him go until his hearing, probably without bail. Only way his odds of being released on his own recognizance would have been higher is if he were a pretty, young white girl.

        I actually personally know a pretty young white girl who got caught in a drug charge out of state, released on her own recognizance pending hearing, came back home, skipped her hearing, got pulled over for a traffic violation back home, jailed for a bit for being a fugitive until the other state could fetch her, taken back to the other state and then released on her own recognizance pending a hearing again despite having explicitly proved that she was a flight risk.

    • voidMainVoid@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      11 months ago

      This case right here. He thought that it was okay to vandalize a religious display that was from “the wrong religion”, and he’s getting let off with a slap on the wrist.

      • intensely_human@lemm.eeEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        And the person letting him off is a conservative, I take it? And this is in comparison to a different arrestee who did the same to another display?