A statue put up outside a state capitol by the group known as the Satanic Temple was vandalized and destroyed just over a day after it was set up. The display was erected in Concord, New Hampshire, consisting of a mannequin representing the occult deity Baphomet.
The Satanic Temple of Salem, Massachusetts, was behind the display—which included elements like purple upside-down crosses and mock Roman Catholic vestments. Controversially, the mannequin of Baphomet was placed near a Christian Nativity display.
Today’s photos of the Satanic Temple’s holiday display in Concord, NH 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/agk8n544cf
— OneOutOfFour (@OneOutof4) December 10, 2024
Democratic State Representative Ellen Read, who facilitated the Satanic Temple’s involvement, claimed the display was intended to reflect societal diversity.
“There was nothing inherently offensive about the display. There were accusations that it meant to denigrate Christians, but there was nothing about it that was denigrating Christians,” she stated, despite the statue’s vestments resembling those worn by Catholic clergy.
Set up on Saturday, the mannequin was discovered “completely destroyed” sometime between early Sunday and Monday afternoon, according to police reports. Only the legs remained standing, while other parts, including the head and torso, were scattered. The incident is not being treated as a major crime.
A similar Satanic Temple idol was displayed in the state capitol in Iowa in December of last year and was also heavily vandalized. Christian veteran Michael Cassidy, who vandalized the idol, was charged with a hate crime.
Cassidy later pleaded guilty to the charges in May of this year, saying, “My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to the bureaucratic decree. And so I acted.” A judge made him pay $855 in civil penalties and sentenced him to two years of probation.
