The holiday drama has begun.
A statue of the demon Baphomet, erected near a Nativity scene outside the New Hampshire State House in Concord by The Satanic Temple (TST), was destroyed just two days after its installation, prompting a police investigation. The statue, which featured Baphomet holding purple lilacs and an apple, was part of the group’s tradition of placing satanic displays next to religious symbols on public property during the holiday season. The statue also featured symbols like inverted crosses and a pentagram, along with a tablet outlining TST’s seven tenets.
The destruction of the statue occurred on Monday night, and it was reported that Christian symbols, including a Santa hat, cross, and ornament, were left at the scene. State Representative Ellen Read, who had invited the display, expressed sadness that the statue was vandalized and suggested that religious individuals were responsible for the act. She also described the destruction as an attack on the group’s expression of beliefs, emphasizing that it was unfortunate that some could not tolerate differing viewpoints.
Concord’s Mayor Byron Champlin expressed disapproval of the statue’s installation, noting that he preferred to deny the permit for the display, fearing it was part of an anti-religious agenda. However, the city approved the permit to avoid legal challenges. TST co-founder Lucien Greaves criticized the vandalism as part of a recurring issue with satanic displays on government property, calling it a holiday tradition for some to destroy these installations.
This incident follows a similar event last year in Iowa, where a Baphomet statue was also vandalized, and the perpetrator was charged with a felony hate crime. The man responsible, Michael Cassidy, defended his actions, arguing that defending Satanic displays on public property goes against the values of the nation’s founding.
Greaves, in his response to the vandalism, expressed that the continued persecution of satanic displays could serve as a reminder of the importance of defending freedom of religion, ensuring that individuals have the right to believe or not believe without facing consequences. He stated that such actions may inspire others to defend religious freedoms, especially in challenging times.