SATANISTS OPEN TEMPLE IN LITTLE ROCK - ASK TO GIVE INOVOCATION AT CITY BOARD MEETING; MAKE NEW REQUEST FOR STATUE ON CAPITOL GROUNDS

SATANISTS OPEN A TEMPLE IN LITTLE ROCK AND REGISTER AS A 501(c) ORGANIZATION

A group Little Rock Satanists spurred on by the recent action of fellow Satanists in Phoenix, who were able to make the Phoenix Arizona City Council drop a long standing tradition of opening meetings with an invocation by asking for permission to give an one, are planning on doing the same with the Little Rock Board of Directors.

The group also made a request to have a statue placed on the Arkansas Capitol grounds. This follows on in September 2015 by the national headquarters of The Satanic Temple (TST) in New York.  The Arkansas Secretary of State denied that request last year.

ARTISTIC RENDERING OF PROPOSED STATUE SUBMITTED TO SECRETARY OF STATE IN NEW REQUEST

In a press release the Satanic Temple argues that "if the State has opened the public grounds to private donations to erect a monument, they cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination and must reasonably allow for other donations of a similar nature and if a statue of an old rock tablet can be placed on the grounds, why not a statue that features little children, does the state of Arkansas hate children?"  

The rhetorical question has caused an avalanche of responses coming from the governor and secretary of state down to child care licensing workers at DHS.

If the request is denied the group plans to work with other religious groups that have been denied permission and file a class action lawsuit.

To heighten awareness, the Satanic Temple plans to seek a section of Arkansas Highway in the Little Rock area through the Adopt-A-Highway program to maintain and has plans to raise money for other community projects during Saturnalia (a festival celebrated in December) much like the Salvation Army does. 

Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert (R) sponsored a bill in the legislature in 2015 that allows for a privately donated 10 Commandments monument to be placed at the state Capitol.

Since the law was passed, several religious affiliated groups have sought to have a statue or monument placed on the Capitol grounds.  So far all requests have been rejected. 

Upon learning of the Satanists plans, Rapert says is planning on breaking out his mobile baptism unit and will try to baptize any Satanist he can find.

RAPERT SAVING A SATANIST AND PERFORMING A BAPTISM LAST YEAR NEAR DEVILS DEN STATE PARK