Battle For The Soul Of The State: The Satanic Grotto Stands Up For Religious Freedom
TOPEKA, KS – A chaotic scene unfolded at the Kansas Capitol as a peaceful demonstration for religious freedom turned into a physical altercation.
Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, was in Topeka to conduct a black mass and advocate for equal religious rights, but his efforts were met with aggression from Catholic counter-protesters and legal maneuvering from state officials.
After officials attempted to restrict the Grotto’s activities to the Capitol lawn, Stewart entered the Statehouse rotunda to proceed. He was immediately confronted by counter-protesters who physically tried to interrupt his ritual. In the ensuing struggle, Stewart was arrested for punching one of the individuals who had reached to grab his papers. He was also accused of punching another man who tried to stop him from stomping on Christan wafers. The individual who initiated the confrontation, Marcus Schroeder, was also arrested for disorderly conduct.
Despite the arrests, Stewart made it clear that the Grotto’s objective was to expose the inequality of religious treatment. “What we only want is the rights that every American has,” Stewart stated, emphasizing that the group was “dragging this issue out into the light” to establish the precedent of religious freedom for everyone.
Sources:
Organizer of Satanist ‘Black Mass’ at Kansas Capitol arrested after punching counter-protester
https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-03-28/kansas-satanic-black-mass-arrests
