A former Mississippi political candidate is facing criminal charges after a bedazzled statue of Baphomet, a figure associated with the Satanic Temple, was discovered decapitated at the Iowa State Capitol.

Michael Cassidy, 35, a former U.S. Navy pilot, told Fox News that he saw the controversy surrounding the display, which was heavily criticized by Republican politicians like Ron DeSantis, and drove to the Iowa Capitol to see it for himself. He said it hit a “nerve” and went on to destroy it.

According to an archived version of his campaign website, Cassidy pushed for a 10-year prison sentence for anyone who destroys a statue in his own state.

  • MedicsOfAnarchy@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before. Make sure future statues are in pentagrams, and put a little side blurb that “maiming, disfiguring, or destroying this statue will complete the act of sacrifice to the deity”. Basically, anyone who defaces the display is, in effect, performing the “ritual of display destruction” - which pleases TST.

    Edit: Make it a three- or four-panel cartoon. Reading is a tough concept for some people.

      • Chocrates@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        A card carrying satanist is just someone who paid $30 for a card (me!).
        When I reached out to the “local” group they were pretty tight lipped and I never followed up. I was just asking about volunteering opportunities and they seemed almost offended I was emailing them.
        I should try to reach out again.