Midwest
Satanic leader arrested after Black Mass, scuffle at Kansas Statehouse: 'A despicable act'
A leader of a Satanist group and three others were arrested Friday after a fight broke out inside the Kansas Statehouse after the leader allegedly tried to hold a Black Mass in the rotunda.
Michael Stewart, head of the Kansas City-area Satanic Grotto, was arrested after video showed him punching a counter-protester who tried to take his script.
Kansas Highway Patrol officers tackled and handcuffed him as he yelled, “Hail, Satan!” He was later released on $1,000 bond for disorderly conduct and unlawful assembly.
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Stewart’s nonprofit group describes itself as an “independent and nondenominational Satanic church.” According to Stewart, the event initially drew little attention until allegations surfaced that he stole consecrated bread from a local Catholic Church for use in the Black Mass.
Michael Stewart, president of the Kansas City-area Satanic Grotto, speaks with reporters as the group rallies outside the Kansas Statehouse Friday in Topeka. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Stewart and about 30 of his group’s members gathered outside the statehouse to protest what they called favoritism toward Christians. Hundreds of Christian counter-protesters sang hymns and urged them to “accept Jesus.”
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly temporarily banned protests inside for the day after Catholic groups pressured her to stop the Black Mass. Catholic leaders called the event “a despicable act of anti-Catholic bigotry.” Kelly issued her order March 12, which applied to Stewart and his followers.
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“There are more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols,” Kelly said in an announcement about the event.
Pastor Jeremiah Hicks of The Cure Church in Kansas City, Kansas, warned against allowing the event.
“The Bible says Satan comes to steal, kill and destroy, so when we dedicate a state to Satan, we’re dedicating it to death,” he declared.
Catholics were among the Christians counter-protesting at a rally by the Satanic Grotto outside the Kansas Statehouse, Friday, in Topeka. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Satanic Grotto followers argued the event was about free speech. Stewart’s wife, Maenad Bee, told reporters, “He’s only exercising his First Amendment rights.”
Two other followers of Stewart, Jocelyn Frazee, 32, and Sean Anderson, 50, were also arrested for unlawful assembly. Frazee had no bond set, and Anderson’s bond information was unavailable at the time of publication.
Marcus Schroeder, 21, a Christian counter-protester who tried to take Stewart’s script, was also arrested for disorderly conduct. His bond was set at $1,000.
Christians counter-protest at a rally outside the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (AP Photo/John Hanna)
Karla Delgado, who attended with her three young children, admitted she tried to stop Stewart’s Satanic ceremony.
“When we saw nobody stopping him, we tried to do it,” she said. In the chaos, her 4-year-old daughter was knocked down.
Stewart said his group scheduled the event thinking lawmakers would be in session. He hinted they may return.
“Maybe ‘un-baptisms,’ right here in the Capitol,” he said.
The Satanic Grotto did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Much of Indiana was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 11 p.m. EDT Tuesday, the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center said.
Indianapolis and the surrounding counties were in the watch area. The watch extends into Illinois.
Counties in the watch are Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Benton, Blackford, Boone, Brown, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Delaware, DeKalb, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Howard, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Johnson, Kosciusko, LaGrange, La Porte, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Newton, Noble, Owen, Parke, Porter, Pulaski, Putnam, Randolph, Shelby, St. Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Wells, White and Whitley.
WRTV Meteorologist Adam Fieck said counties farther north were expected to have more severe weather than others in Indiana, based on a prediction for the areas. Fieck said storms will begin to work into the Indianapolis metro area as early as 5-6 p.m. Storms will exit the area by 11 p.m.
Fieck and WISH-TV Meteorologist Keith Gibson said main threats will be for gusty winds and localized heavy downpours. Small hail up to the size of a pea is possible, with a low-end risk for a brief spin-up tornado farther north.
After the storms, Gibson said variably cloudy skies are likely overnight, with cool lows in the mid-50s.
After the storms, Gibson said variably cloudy skies are likely overnight, with cool lows in the mid-50s.
On Wednesday, high-end severe weather appears likely in the region as an unusually strong storm system, by June standards, was expected.
WRTV Meteorologist Ryan Morse said two rounds of showers and storms are expected, with the second being the bigger issue. A moderate risk is in place for spots northwest of Indianapolis, while most of central Indiana is at an enhanced risk.
Stan Son provides the latest injury update for Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres on Monday, June 15.
In the top of the second inning of Monday’s game against the Houston Astros, Gleyber Torres was replaced by Hao-Yu Lee. Torres suffered an injury after swinging at the first pitch he saw. While no official designation has been given yet for the injury, Torres did grab at his oblique.
Earlier in the season, Torres missed a month due to an oblique injury.
Before exiting, Torres went 0-for-1 with a strikeout.
Since Torres exited prior to the completion of his second at-bat, he is eligible for DraftKings Early Exit.
Stay tuned to DK Network for live updates on his injury status.
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