The US Navy veteran who destroyed the satanic goat figure at the Iowa State Capitol has said people defending the display are “overcomplicating” the situation.
Michael Cassidy, 35, was arrested last Thursday morning for tearing down the Baphomet exhibit at the Iowa Satanic Temple.
The exhibition featured a statue of Baphomet – a goat-headed figure that represented Satan, along with the seven principles of Satanism, satanic symbols and candles.
Cassidy was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief after he allegedly ripped off Baphomet's head and the passionate Christian said he tore down the statue because “it was extremely anti-Christian.”
After raising $80,000 in donations for his legal defense, the vandalist has now called out those defending the display under constitutional rights for “overcomplicating” the situation.
Michael Cassidy, 35, was arrested for allegedly tearing down the Baphomet exhibit at the Iowa Satanic Temple last Thursday morning
The exhibition featured a statue of Baphomet – a goat-headed figure used to represent Satan, along with the seven principles of Satanism, satanic symbols and many candles
Cassidy has now condemned critics and lawmakers for “overcomplicating” the situation by using the Constitution to justify the satanic statue
After raising $80,000 through donations for his legal defense, the vandalist has now called out those defending the display under constitutional rights for “overcomplicating” the situation
“People are starting to overcomplicate the truth, which is that God is great and should be honored, and the devil is evil and should not be honored,” Cassidy told the newspaper. Christian post. “I think people are tying themselves in knots trying to justify it, and it's really much simpler than that.”
Cassidy revealed that he didn't immediately start tearing down the display case, but he looked at the open doors near the statue and felt compelled to do something.
“I don't want to have that conversation with Jesus one day and have Him say, 'Hey, there was a statue and you knew it was wrong for it to be up there, but you were afraid of worldly things and worldly consequences. and you were ashamed of me and my resistance to the devil,” he said.
Cassidy ran an unsuccessful 2022 campaign to replace Rep. Michael Guest in Mississippi's Third Congressional District, but lost the race with 32.6 percent of the vote to Guest's 67.4 percent.
Republican state lawmakers have debated whether the statue should be removed, with Iowa state Rep. Brian Sherman – a Christian pastor – arguing that the display violated the Iowa state constitution.
Sherman appealed to Iowa's Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, to have the satanic statue removed, but she refused.
“Like many Iowans, I find the Satanic Temple exhibit at the Capitol absolutely reprehensible,” Reynolds said.
“In a free society, more speech is the best response to objectionable speech, and I encourage all people of faith to join me today in praying before the Capitol and recognizing the Nativity scene that will be on display – the true reason for this season. '
“People are starting to overcomplicate the truth, which is that God is great and should be honored, and the devil is evil and should not be honored,” Cassidy said. “I think people are tying themselves in knots trying to justify it, and it's really a lot simpler than that.”
Social media users are heavily praising Cassidy's actions – even calling him a 'hero' and saying 'atta boy'
State Rep. Jon Dunwell, who is also a pastor, said on
“For me, I would rather have a malicious, blasphemous display or no display at all than have the state dictate what they deem appropriate,” Dunwell said. C.P in an interview last week.
But Cassidy is adamant that just because the Satanists checked all the boxes to be displayed in the Iowa State Capitol doesn't mean the statue deserves to be kept on par with the nativity scene or displayed on government property.
“The devil is evil, and we should not pretend that he is like a nativity scene,” he said.
Last week, the Satanic Temple of Iowa, which erected the statue, said the holiday exhibit was “irredeemable.”
“We ask that visitors travel together for safety and use the Seven Principles as a reminder of empathy, knowing that justice will be properly pursued, through legal means,” the group wrote. 'Happy Holidays! Hail Satan!'
Co-founder of The Satanic Temple Lucien Greaves shared CNN: 'They held prayer meetings, they protested against us, they denigrated the local government for following the law and opening the public forum to all viewers and they still felt the need to tear down the statue.
“I think it was a real act of cowardice – it's cowardice dressed up as heroism.”