Controversial Satanic Statue at New Hampshire State House Taken Down

Police in Concord, New Hampshire, are investigating after a city-sanctioned Satanic statue outside the State House was vandalized and torn down just days after its unveiling. The display, depicting the pagan deity Baphomet, was part of a holiday exhibit intended to promote religious inclusion.

The statue, erected Saturday night by The Satanic Temple, was found in pieces by Tuesday morning. Concord Deputy Police Chief John Thomas offered a light-hearted take on the incident, saying, “Santa wouldn’t do this. Santa loves everybody.”

The display was initiated by Democratic State Representative Ellen Read, who approached The Satanic Temple in the interest of “equal representation” for religious groups on public grounds. The city approved the statue under its First Amendment obligations, alongside other holiday displays, including a Christmas tree, nativity scene, and a Bill of Rights exhibit.

“Under the First Amendment and to avoid litigation, the City needed to choose whether to ban all holiday displays installed by other groups, or otherwise, to allow it,” Concord officials said in a statement. The city council plans to review the policy on unattended displays for future seasons.

Mayor Byron Champlin, however, opposed the permit, accusing the group of advancing an anti-religious political agenda rather than genuine religious equity.

The Satanic Temple’s display drew sharp criticism from local residents and Christian advocacy groups. Cornerstone, a New Hampshire-based Christian organization, mocked the display, describing The Satanic Temple as “normal, atheist feminists” whose actions are driven by a desire to mock faith rather than promote religious beliefs.

“The Satanic Temple is not Charles Manson: it’s just your liberal feminist aunt trying to trigger you by mocking your faith,” Cornerstone said. “They have no religious belief in any Satan figure... Offending Christian grandmothers brings a sense of meaning to their sad lives.”

While proponents like Read defended the display as a gesture of inclusion, others viewed it as an unnecessary provocation. Read lamented the emotional backlash, stating, “The reaction seems so emotional, so knee-jerk, that the idea that a mannequin and a goat mask would create all of this animosity.”

The Satanic Temple, known for using its controversial imagery to challenge perceived religious favoritism, has previously engaged in legal battles over abortion bans and internal disputes over transgender ideology.

The vandalism raises questions about the balance between free speech and community standards, especially when public spaces are used to display highly polarizing symbols. The city’s decision to approve the display was grounded in legal concerns, yet the backlash highlights the deep cultural divides over religion and public expression.

As the city council prepares to revisit its policy on public holiday displays, the incident underscores the ongoing debate over how far First Amendment protections should extend in cases where religious or political statements incite public outrage.

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