A controversial Satan-themed holiday display inside the Minnesota State Capitol was restored to its spot Wednesday after it was apparently knocked over the night before.

The display of the mythical phoenix freshly emerging from its ashes sits near a Christmas tree and a nativity scene just off the building’s rotunda. Over its head is an inverted five-sided star inside a circle, a common symbol of Satanism.

“You Are Your Own God,” reads a card in front of the phoenix. The display was sponsored by a group called Minnesota Satanists.

It was installed Friday and gradually drew online reactions. Wednesday morning, the bird and star were gone, replaced by a card saying the display was “temporarily unavailable.” But it was back in its place a few hours later, in time for the arrival of protestors.

Asmodeus Sion, who in 2017 founded Minnesota Satanists, told the Minnesota Star Tribune that someone knocked it over the previous afternoon.

“It didn’t hurt it much,” Sion said on Wednesday. “We just had to replace some feathers and use a little hot glue.”

Tuesday, before all the in-person commotion, Sion said, “We wanted to have something beautiful up there for everybody. We figured it would cause a conversation, and we’re glad it did.”

Minnesota is not the first state to display Satanic imagery in its Capitol – Iowa and Illinois have done so as well. The groups behind the effort are generally nontheistic or atheistic organizations who troll religious conservatives and use Satan as a vehicle to promote religious skepticism and satire, civil rights and the separation of church and state.

Minnesota Satanists is similar, although it recently severed ties with a national group, the Satanic Temple. The Minnesota group, which has legal status as a church, does not worship Satan or believe he is real.

“We champion the symbol of Lucifer as representing revolt against arbitrary authority and oppression, advocacy for the pursuit of knowledge and reason, and sympathy with the scapegoat and the downtrodden,” the website says.

A representative for Gov. Tim Walz’s office said the governor “does not agree with the display and did not approve it. But the First Amendment means that he does not police speech in the State Capitol. That’s true whether it’s a religious display, a political protest, or a Minnesotan advocating for a policy.”

A permit for a “holiday display” was issued by the Minnesota Department of Administration, which is responsible for such permits at the State Capitol and grounds, spokeswoman Julie Nelsen said. She added that “a permit for a First Amendment protected speech event does not imply an endorsement by the state.”

In addition to the Christmas tree and nativity scene, soon there will be a Hanukkah menorah also on display at the Capitol building. The Satanic display is scheduled to be visible inside the building until Dec. 27.

Sion said a phoenix was chosen for the display because it is a symbol of rebirth, transformation and self-determination, especially significant with the new year approaching. In the display, the mythical bird is surrounded by black cranes with crescent moons, which “reinforces the power of intention and renewal,” he said.

His group holds meetings to discuss current events “in the Satanic world, so to speak,” along with board game nights, craft days and charitable endeavors – “real dark stuff,” Sion joked.

“We do good in the world,” he said. “We do things like charity drives a couple times a year to benefit things like (homelessness).”

The symbol displayed at the Capitol, which is referred to as an inverted pentagram, set off a range of reactions online for several days before an in-person protest Wednesday. Some expressed disgust and confusion while others hailed it as a celebration of freedom of religion and the separation of church and state.

In a post on the social media site X, Paul Gazelka, a former member of the Minnesota Senate, called it a “huge insult to Christians.” Rep. Tom Emmer, the Republican majority whip of the U.S. House, asked on the site, “Is there anything Tim Walz won’t do to insult Minnesotans?”

Approximately 70 protestors gathered near the display midday Wednesday. The group included Christians, pastors and Republican state representatives who said it was offensive to erect the display just prior to Christmas.

“I do think it’s a just mockery of all faiths,” said Rep. Pam Altendorf. “It isn’t just Christianity, it’s all of the religions that look at Satan as the enemy. ... I think it’s a timing issue.”

The gathering was organized by Dale Witherington, founder of the organization Restore Minnesota. He led the crowd in reciting prayers and singing carols.

“I would love to see that sucker burn up,” Withering told the crowd.

State Rep. Harry Niska said while he opposes the display, it is protected under the constitutional right to free speech.

“It is offensive to our faith, but I do believe that people have their right to say things, even (things) that I would find offensive,” he said.

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