A small group of self-identified Satanists, known as the Devil’s Cave, led by President Michael Stewart, faced off against Christian protesters outside the Kansas Capitol after plans for a black mass were announced. The confrontation stemmed from tensions over the perceived favoritism towards Christian groups by the state, with Kansas Governor Laura Kelly recently banning protests in the Capitol following pressure from Catholic bishops who deemed the planned ceremony “anti-Catholic.”
During the brawl, which included attempts to conduct a ceremony in the Rotunda, Stewart was arrested for disorderly conduct after striking a young man who tried to take his script. Three individuals were arrested, including Stewart, and all were later released on bail. Witnesses reported chaos as both sides exchanged chants, with Christians encouraging the Satanists to convert to Christianity. Amid the disturbance, one protester claimed that their young child was knocked down in the ensuing confusion. Some members of the Devil’s Cave identified as atheists or as using the group to express dissent against past religious experiences, advocating for First Amendment rights in their disturbances.
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