Kansas Statehouse Black Mass Leads to Arrests, Sparking Free Speech Debate
Following a planned Black Mass inside the Kansas Statehouse, Michael Stewart, leader of the Satanic Grotto, and three others were arrested. The event, intended as a protest for religious freedom and against perceived state favoritism towards Christianity, sparked a large counter-protest from Christian groups. A scuffle ensued when attendees attempted to stop the ceremony, resulting in arrests for disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly on both sides. Governor Kelly’s temporary ban on indoor protests, enacted following pressure from Catholic groups, was in effect at the time of the incident. Stewart was released on bond, while the status of other arrestees varied.
John Q. Hosedrinker