The Satanic Temple of Iowa was supposed to throw a holiday celebration on Saturday — exactly one year after a statue depicting the pagan idol Baphomet was destroyed in the display at the State Capitol building in Des Moines — but the state opted to cancel the event.
The Satanic Temple of Iowa alleges the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (DAS) “forcibly canceled” the event.
“We have made every effort to work with them (Iowa DAS) to ensure a successful event, but after over two months on the official Capitol events calendar we have been informed that our event will no longer be allowed,” the Satanic Temple of Iowa announced on the event’s page on Facebook Friday night.
Members of the Satanic Temple of Iowa planned to sing Satanic carols and hold a Krampus costume contest and a Satanic ritual.
“Our goal was to promote tolerance and acceptance of diverse religious beliefs, with a theme of finding a light in the darkness and welcoming the darkest nights of the year with joy and camaraderie,” the post said. “We are no stranger to obstacles in advocating for religious pluralism and freedom of speech, and we will continue to fight for the rights of Satanic Temple members and our local community.”