Satanic Leader Arrested During Attempted 'Black Mass' at Kansas Statehouse

Michael Stewart and three others were detained after a physical altercation disrupted the controversial event, reigniting debates on religious freedom and public order.

Michael Stewart, leader of the Satanic Grotto, was arrested on charges of unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct after a physical confrontation during an attempted 'Black Mass' in the Kansas Statehouse rotunda.
The altercation began when a counter-protester tried to grab an item from Stewart's hand, prompting Stewart to respond physically, leading to his arrest along with three others, including the counter-protester.
Governor Laura Kelly had issued a temporary ban on protests inside the Statehouse for the day, but Stewart defied the order, claiming to exercise his First Amendment rights.
The Satanic Grotto organized the event to protest perceived favoritism toward Christian groups in public spaces, drawing hundreds of Christian counter-protesters who denounced the event as anti-Catholic bigotry.
The incident has reignited discussions about the balance between religious freedom, public order, and the separation of church and state, with the Satanic Grotto signaling potential future actions.