Satanic Leader Strikes Catholic Protester In Capitol Brawl
A leader of a satanic group was arrested at the Kansas state Capitol after an altercation with a Catholic protester during a religious demonstration. The incident took place in the rotunda, where tensions escalated between the Satanic Grotto, led by Michael Stewart, and a group of Catholic counter-protesters.
The confrontation occurred when Marcus Jeremiah Jared Schroeder, a Catholic protester, tried to grab a booklet from Stewart while the latter called out to Satan during the rally. Stewart responded by punching Schroeder. Capitol police had previously warned Stewart that any disruptive actions could lead to police involvement. The incident, which was caught on video, was the culmination of a morning filled with tension between the two groups.
Prior to the physical confrontation inside the Capitol, another clash occurred outside on the lawn, where Stewart was tackled by an unidentified individual while he stomped on a communion wafer, further fueling the already charged atmosphere. Following the altercation inside, Stewart was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly. He was later released on a $1,000 bond. Schroeder, who was also detained, faced similar charges and had a criminal record, including a conviction for making a false bomb threat at a 2023 LGBT pride event.
The demonstrations were sparked by a black mass ritual organized by Stewart and the Satanic Grotto in support of abortion rights. The group claimed the event was intended to “dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan.” In response, hundreds of Catholics and members of TFP Student Action, a group associated with the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, gathered to protest.
Earlier in the month, the Kansas House passed a resolution condemning the black mass, describing it as an act of anti-Catholic bigotry. Despite efforts to prevent the event, including a lawsuit seeking to recover religious items Stewart had purchased online, the ritual proceeded as planned, intensifying the standoff between the two groups.