The Satanic Temple’s holiday display at New Hampshire’s State House in Concord has been destroyed.
The city said it initially approved the display to “avoid litigation,” Boston.com reported.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the City of Concord said, “Under the First Amendment and to avoid litigation, the City needed to choose whether to ban all holiday displays installed by other groups, or otherwise, to allow it.”
“After reviewing its legal options, the City ultimately decided to continue the policy of allowing unattended displays at City Plaza during this holiday season and to allow the statue,” the city continued. “It is anticipated that City Council will review next year whether permits for unattended holiday displays should be allowed at City Plaza.”
State Rep. Ellen Read asked The Satanic Temple to set up its display near a nativity scene to represent “our pluralistic society.”
“I’ve just been a long time supporter of TST in terms of their beliefs and the work that they do,” Read said. “I’m local, so I helped with the permitting process, and I was there for the unveiling.”
The representative added that 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. If you don’t want to allow it for all religions, then you don’t have to allow religious displays.”
Similar displays were erected in several states last year.
A pagan yule goat was erected in Michigan’s Capitol last year, prompting nine representatives to issue a letter of condemnation to the Michigan Capitol Commission. Iowa Satanists also erected a display of Baphomet at the Iowa State Capitol. Similarly, The Satanic Temple of Wisconsin made a display for the National Railroad Museum’s Christmas tree festival.
