The Satanic Temple’s Christmas Season Display Vandalized in Concord, New Hampshire
A Christmas season display outside the New Hampshire State House was vandalized on Monday night, with the statue of the hooded demon Baphomet found broken in half. The display, which included a marble slab showing The Satanic Temple’s seven principles, was put up this weekend on the Concord City Square. City officials had initially expressed reservations about the display, but ultimately allowed it to go up after receiving a threat of a lawsuit.
Representative Ellen Read (D-Newmarket), who helped organize the display, was spotted gathering up the broken shards of the goat-headed figure on Tuesday morning. She is unsure if members of The Satanic Temple plan to put their monster mannequin back together.
The Satanic Temple, a Vermont and New Hampshire-based organization, is known for its liberal advocacy in favor of abortion rights, transgender rights, and free speech. However, Cornerstone, a New Hampshire Christian advocacy organization, has mocked the display as a childish and insincere attempt to promote an anti-religious agenda.
Rep. Joe Sweeney (R-Salem) has also weighed in, sending out a fundraising email from the state GOP Committee arguing that Republicans can defend against devils real and imagined. Meanwhile, members of The Satanic Temple have professed an atheistic creed that uses the dark cloak of Satan to shock mainstream society while preaching self-actualization.
Despite the vandalism, Santa is not a suspect, although Rudolph’s whereabouts on Monday are still unknown.