The Satanic Temple of Iowa is considering taking legal action against the state after Iowa officials denied its request to put up a holiday display and hold a celebration at the Capitol.
In a letter to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, which denied the request, Satanic Temple attorney Matt Kezhaya directed the department to preserve documents and records related to the issue "as litigation appears to be on the horizon."
State officials said they denied the application over concerns the sticks that are part of a Krampus costume could be used to hurt children.
The temple’s celebration had been planned for Dec. 14.
The Department of Administrative Services ruled the display violated the obscenity guidelines in the “memorandum of understanding” groups are required to follow when holding displays or events at the Capitol complex. The guidelines prohibits “obscene materials,” including ones that depict “gratuitous violence or gore.”
Kezhaya, the Satanic Temple’s general counsel, argued in a letter to Adam Steen, director of the Department of Administrative Services, that the cancellation of the celebration was “content-based” and violated the group’s First Amendment rights.
The department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.
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One week before it denied the Satanic Temple’s celebration/display request, the state department asked for a list of songs that would be sung, images of the ornaments planned for the display and a description of the costume contest and ritual, according to the letter.
The Satanic Temple responded, sending a photo of what the costumes would look like.
According to Kezhaya, the Department of Administrative Services, in its denial, referenced the photo of people dressed as Krampus, a horned, devil-like figure, arguing the sticks the costumed people were holding could harm children.
“No part of any application material suggested that children would be hit. Nor does the photograph you referenced depict children being hit. You simply concocted a false narrative about the contents of my client’s speech and then used your lie as a basis to deny the application,” Kezhaya said in the letter to state officials.
“My client corrected your misunderstanding by informing you that ‘the sticks are a traditional costume component and for appearance only,’ expounding that ‘they were never intended to be used on anyone, and we never stated that they would be.’ Yet your determination remained unchanged. And your determination remained unchanged, even after my client struck the costume contest as part of the event.”
The celebration was scheduled to include the singing of satanic holiday carols such as “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by the Velvet Underground & Nico and “Lucifer’s the Light of the World” by King Dude; ornament making; an all-ages Krampus costume contest; and a ritual where participants would form a procession to the display with a flameless LED candle, according to the letter.
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In a letter to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, which denied the request, Satanic Temple attorney Matt Kezhaya directed the department to preserve documents and records related to the issue "as litigation appears to be on the horizon."
State officials said they denied the application over concerns the sticks that are part of a Krampus costume could be used to hurt children.
The temple’s celebration had been planned for Dec. 14.
The Department of Administrative Services ruled the display violated the obscenity guidelines in the “memorandum of understanding” groups are required to follow when holding displays or events at the Capitol complex. The guidelines prohibits “obscene materials,” including ones that depict “gratuitous violence or gore.”
Kezhaya, the Satanic Temple’s general counsel, argued in a letter to Adam Steen, director of the Department of Administrative Services, that the cancellation of the celebration was “content-based” and violated the group’s First Amendment rights.
The department did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment.
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One week before it denied the Satanic Temple’s celebration/display request, the state department asked for a list of songs that would be sung, images of the ornaments planned for the display and a description of the costume contest and ritual, according to the letter.
The Satanic Temple responded, sending a photo of what the costumes would look like.
According to Kezhaya, the Department of Administrative Services, in its denial, referenced the photo of people dressed as Krampus, a horned, devil-like figure, arguing the sticks the costumed people were holding could harm children.
“No part of any application material suggested that children would be hit. Nor does the photograph you referenced depict children being hit. You simply concocted a false narrative about the contents of my client’s speech and then used your lie as a basis to deny the application,” Kezhaya said in the letter to state officials.
“My client corrected your misunderstanding by informing you that ‘the sticks are a traditional costume component and for appearance only,’ expounding that ‘they were never intended to be used on anyone, and we never stated that they would be.’ Yet your determination remained unchanged. And your determination remained unchanged, even after my client struck the costume contest as part of the event.”
The celebration was scheduled to include the singing of satanic holiday carols such as “I’ll Be Your Mirror” by the Velvet Underground & Nico and “Lucifer’s the Light of the World” by King Dude; ornament making; an all-ages Krampus costume contest; and a ritual where participants would form a procession to the display with a flameless LED candle, according to the letter.
Satanic Temple considers lawsuit after being denied a display at Iowa Capitol
Attorney says denial violates First Amendment
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