Among the biggest stories of the moment is the increasing deluge of Tesla vehicle vandalism — and worse.
Ever since the car company's CEO, Elon Musk, earlier this year joined President Donald Trump's team as the leader of the DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — and began cutbacks, leftists far and wide have been losing their minds.
'We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?'
One of the ways they've carried out their anger is vandalism of Tesla cars, primarily by "keying" them — scraping keys or other hard objects against the exterior surface as the offenders walk by.
Blaze News has looked at example after example of this woke phenomenon, and ironically Tesla's onboard Sentry Mode has caught the crooks red-handed, as the technology can record video of activity outside the vehicles.
For example, police in Lakewood, Colorado, arrested Shaydan Hessner and charged the 29-year-old for criminal tampering after video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting keyed last month in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall, KDVR-TV reported.
Indeed, similar acts have been occurring at an alarming pace. Blaze News has noted documented attacks against Tesla — including arson and vandalism — as well as leftist violence against the cars in more than 20 states.
Here's a rundown, just for starters:
The following are further examples, fleshed out with more detail, of the left's recent lawlessness.
A 70-year-old male at a Tesla dealership protest in Meridian, Idaho, is accused of driving his car into a counterprotester, KIVI-TV reported. Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an "obscene gesture" toward a 49-year-old man before hitting the man with his car at the dealership on Franklin Road around 1 p.m. Saturday, the station said, citing the Meridian Police Department.
KIVI said the victim had just parked his truck — which was decorated with flags supporting President Donald Trump — and exited the vehicle when Talbot allegedly hit him with his car. The victim then transported himself to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the station said. The victim took note of Talbot's license plate, after which police went to Talbot's residence and arrested him, KIVI said.
Talbot was booked into the Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, the station said. He was not granted bail.
At the time of the incident, about 30 Tesla protesters and about 200 counterprotesters were gathered at the dealership, KBOI-TV reported, adding that the victim was identified as a counterprotester. You can view a video report here about the incident.
Video caught the moment when a male riding an ATV slammed it into a Tesla vehicle. The suspect reportedly vandalized other Teslas the same day. Police in Texarkana, Texas, arrested 33-year-old Demarkeyun Marquize Cox on March 25 on charges of criminal mischief and failure to identify/giving false information. Jail records indicate Cox stands 5'2" and weighs 449 pounds. His total bond is $105,000.
Police said Cox's rampage began at the Golden Place restaurant on Summerhill Road, where he was captured on the Tesla's surveillance footage ramming into it at full speed. They were investigating the incident when police got a report of another Tesla damaged in a Lowe's parking lot. Police said soon after they saw a man fitting the provided description riding an ATV near the intersection of Summerhill and New Boston Roads. When they questioned Cox, he reportedly gave them a false name. Police got a third report of Tesla vandalism near Genesis Prime Care on College Drive after they arrested Cox. Police also said that the word "Elon" was scratched into two vehicles.
You can view a video report here from WBIR-TV about the arrest.
A 61-year-old Tesla driver told KTVK-TV a male motorist recently cut her off, boxed her in, then exited his car and repeatedly punched her on a busy road in Flagstaff, Arizona. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous and went by the alias "Susan," explained to the station that she was on Route 66 when another vehicle started chasing her.
KTVK said Susan has video of the incident, and it shows a motorist in a green car pulling up next to her and then swerving in front of her and boxing her in. Susan told the station that the motorist then exited his car, walked over to her as she was behind the wheel of her Tesla, and then began punching her.
Susan told the station she soon bit her attacker's hand; indeed, video shows the male at one point pulling his hand away from the Tesla and shaking it. Moments later, video shows the male motorist's passenger exiting the green car and pulling the attacker away, after which the pair drive off.
Flagstaff police cited the suspect, who was due in court March 31, the station said.
A statement from police said officers responded to reports of "a road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter" around 12:30 p.m. March 19, KSAZ-TV reported, adding that investigators said the incident involved a Tesla and a Chevrolet Cavalier.
"The driver of the Cavalier, later identified as Robert Artherton, 33, of Flagstaff, drove in front of the Tesla, causing both vehicles to stop in the roadway," the statement said in part, KSAZ reported, adding that Artherton exited his vehicle and approached the driver’s side of the Tesla, after which a confrontation ensued.
KSAZ said both parties gave conflicting accounts regarding what took place, and police said they both suffered minor injuries. "All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures," officials said in the statement, KSAZ noted.
"Mr. Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in lieu of detention due to seeking medical attention for an injury to his hand," the statement said in part, according to KSAZ.
KTVK reported that another female Tesla owner said she recently departed a Flagstaff grocery store and found a note on her car that read, “She’s a Nazi and a loser.” A few weeks later, she received a threatening text calling her a “Racist POS," the station said.
KTVK said both Tesla owners also signed up for a gun safety course at Timberline Firearms, which is north of Flagstaff.
“They were targeted because they drove a Tesla and, as a result, felt quite vulnerable,” shop owner Rob Wilson told KTVK. “They were surprised someone would do something like that and realized if they were doing it, and targeting them because of car they drive, they needed to take additional measures to protect themselves.”
You can view a video report here about what happened to both Tesla drivers.
The family of 18-year-old Abigail Gill owns a Tesla Model X because its automated driving function helps her drive more easily, the Wichita Eagle reported. Abigail has spinal muscular atrophy, and she uses a wheelchair, the paper said.
Abigail was out to eat with her mother, brother, and boyfriend on March 20, the paper said, after which they noticed the Tesla had been keyed deeply on both sides. Video connected to the Tesla showed that a male who had been sitting next to them had left the restaurant, keyed the passenger side of the Tesla, went back inside, came out again, and keyed the other side of the Tesla, then then picked up his family, the Eagle said.
Video also picked up the suspected culprit's face as well as the license plate of his car, she also told the Eagle.
Johnathan F. Erhart, 30, was charged with one count of criminal damage to property on March 28, the paper said. If convicted, he could be sentenced from five to 17 months in prison, the Eagle said, citing Kansas sentencing guidelines.
"It’s a super saddening and disappointing thing to see," Abigail told Fox News regarding the incident. You can view a video report about the incident here, which includes an interview with Abigail and security video of the culprit caught in the act.
A male was caught on Tesla security video spray-painting graffiti on the Tesla in a Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley, California, KGO-TV reported, adding that the incident took place March 16 and paint cans can be seen in both of the culprit's hands.
The Tesla owner, who identified himself as Hiroshi, told the station, "I wasn't shocked because this has been happening so frequently. Even the police, when they showed up, both officers are Tesla owners as well. They expressed to me that they've been dealing with this so much. It's like a trend."
Berkeley police have not identified the suspect, KGO said, adding that Hiroshi noted that he had the spray paint removed and is remaining loyal to Tesla. In fact, he told the station he plans to expedite his order for Tesla's new Cybertruck.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
A Tesla Cybertruck owner who did not want to give his name told WZZM-TV that on March 15 he found a hateful message written on his vehicle at an undisclosed location in Western Michigan's Kent County.
The message read, "F**k off Nazi." You can view a video report here about the incident.
“We were out with my friends having dinner and drinks and come out to the vehicle with the message on the window," he told WZZM, adding that "there were people around the truck and taking photos and a lot of people laughing. It was very disappointing and frustrating.” He added to the station that his friends were "were embarrassed about it.”
The victim also told WZZM that he ordered the $100,000 Cybertruck four years ago, well prior to Elon Musk's work with the Trump administration. While the station said he didn't share his political views, he also said it doesn't matter: “Everyone works hard for what they have, and regardless of their political views, we should respect that.”
He also told WZZM that he has no plans to sell his Tesla to avoid such incidents: “I’m not going to let people tell me what I should buy or not buy.”
Still, he told the station that every day "I do get a lot of middle fingers" and that "it does not bother me as much when I’m by myself, but when we have kids inside the car, it’s kind of disappointing ... and sad.”
The victim told WZZM he plans to turn in the video to police. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office noted to the station that punishment for such an offense could result in a charge of malicious destruction of property.
A male who appeared to be protesting against Elon Musk's political activity accidentally lit himself on fire while trying to vandalize electronic vehicle charging stations, according to South Carolina police.
The incident unfolded on March 13 at the Tesla charging stations near a Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in northern Charleston. The male wrote "Free Ukraine" as well as another message against President Donald Trump with an expletive included, according to a report from the North Charleston Police Department.
Police said the male lit material stuffed into beer bottles and threw them at the stations. Witnesses told police the male lit himself on fire by accident and then fled from the scene.
Firefighters cut power to the chargers and then extinguished the fire. Investigators collected beer bottles from the alleged attack and had been trying to lift fingerprints from the glass. Police estimated that the male caused about $60,000 in damage to the charging stations.
Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, of James Island was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the incident, according to a March 14 news release from the U.S. Justice Department. Clarke-Pounder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
A mother on her way to a doctor's appointment on March 19 in Lynnwood, Washington, told KCPQ-TV a male wearing a ski mask and a camouflage jacket harassed her in a scary incident because she was driving a Tesla.
Leigh, a Tesla owner for the last two years, added to the station, "He gets out and walks straight up to my door window. So I cracked my window, and I said, ‘What? What is the problem?’ He goes, ‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car. You're driving it, you need to sell your car.’"
Leigh recounted to KCPQ, "I could only see his eyes. ... I had no idea if I was safe or not. I felt very threatened."
You can view a video report here about the incident; it includes a clip of the masked male in question approaching her Tesla.
A week prior in Lynnwood, a number of Tesla Cybertrucks were spray-painted with graffiti and swastikas at a Tesla Service Station, KIRO-TV reported. The owner of one of the vandalized cars told the station that "as a gay Jewish person, I was kind of taken aback." The victim posted photos of the vandalism on X.
The new video — which was livestreamed to Facebook — shows the Tesla owner allegedly confronting the suspect, who tells the owner, "I can wipe it off with a towel — it's not a key, it's a crayon." He added to the Tesla owner, "It didn't even work."
But the Tesla owner explains that his car is being fingerprinted by the police "right now," after which the confronted male asks, "What do you mean it's being fingerprinted?"
The Tesla owner said police were trying to "track" the suspect down but noted that Facebook users tracked him down.
“I’m sorry. I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you," the suspect is heard saying on video.
The Tesla owner asks the alleged suspect why he would scratch a swastika on his Tesla, after which the confronted male replies, "Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk" and admits that his actions were "misguided."
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department said in a statement that the suspect was identified by his gym membership identification card and his Pennsylvania driver's license. A criminal complaint was filed, and police on March 27 issued an arrest warrant for 55-year-old Chadd Ritenbaugh, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was hit with charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and two counts of harassment.
A masked male was caught on video spray-painting the word "Nazi" on both sides of a Tesla Cybertruck in the middle of the night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, KFOR-TV reported.
Tulsa police said officers were called to a Residence Inn at 3:20 a.m. March 11, the station said, adding that the Cybertruck owner received a notification on her phone that someone was tampering with her vehicle. The suspect fled by the time she got to the parking lot, KFOR said.
You can view a video report here about the incident. Those with information about the person responsible can contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS with the reference number 2025-011539.
A Texas Tesla owner has filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against the male accused of keying his Model X last month when it was parked at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, KTVT-TV reported.
DFW Airport Police arrested Rafael Hernandez in late March and charged him with criminal mischief, the station said, adding that the accused is expected to make his first court appearance on April 8. In the lawsuit, the Tesla owner is identified only by his initials due to fear of threats, KTVT added.
Majed Nachawati, managing partner with the Nachawati Legal Group in Dallas, which is representing the Tesla owner, told the station that "this matter has nothing to do with his political persuasions or affiliations. He happens to believe that Tesla, his Model X, is one of the best cars he's ever owned. And he enjoys driving it, plain and simple."
The Tesla's onboard camera captured images of a male holding a key fob and appearing to use it to vandalize the vehicle, the station said. The car's owner shared video of the alleged vandalism on social media, hoping to identify the culprit, after which it went viral and led to Hernandez's arrest, KTVK said.
"It's just kind of mind-boggling to me that there are people who are so triggered and so disturbed by anything these days that they can go so far as to just cause harm to somebody," the car's owner told the station soon after the incident.
More from KTVK:
Attorneys for the Tesla owner whose car was keyed said attacks on private individuals due to political disagreements cannot be tolerated. They acknowledged that the vehicle itself is not worth $1 million, but admit their client also wants to send a message with the lawsuit. He's hoping to discourage other acts of violence.
"We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?" Nachawati said. "Whether you're a Republican, whether you're a Democrat, I believe anyone who sees the video and who sees what happened would believe that deterrence would be the biggest part of this case."
A male caught on video keying a Tesla in the parking lot of a Houston Whole Foods on Feb. 13 confessed to the crime but told KPRC-TV that his actions weren't politically motivated.
Nicholas Carrion told the station that his behavior was the result of road rage after he said the Tesla driver cut him off, and he decided to follow her into the Whole Foods parking lot.
“I felt anger because the woman cut me off. We were both going into the Whole Foods, so I did not follow her directly. I got out and went to the store,” Carrion noted to KPRC. “But after I did my shopping, I came back outside and just couldn’t let it go.”
Carrion is now facing charges of felony criminal mischief — not terrorism charges — for the damage he caused to the woman’s Tesla, the station said. Carrion sent the following message to the victim: “I did not mean to cause you that much fear. This was in no way politically motivated. I just hope you are able to live a normal life and not be in fear to just do normal activities and drive around in the Tesla.”
The victim, however, told KPRC she had no prior knowledge of any road rage incident, expressed disbelief, and said if she had been aware of a confrontation, she wouldn't have left her car unattended in the parking lot. You can view a video report here about the new developments.
An unidentified individual wearing a face mask was caught on video March 16 scrawling, "This car supports Nazis," on a Tesla vehicle in downtown Syracuse, WSTM-TV reported.
“Protesting is a right that we all have, but destroying people’s property is not," the car owner, Shawn Freed, told the station in an interview.
Freed posted the video of the vandalism to his X account, after which Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg reposted the clip.
Despite the hassle, Freed told WSTM he's not getting rid of his car: "In some ways, I see myself as someone who is a voice for the other people who are innocent bystanders who have their property destroyed."
Freed added to the station that he reported the vandalism to Syracuse police, who are investigating. You can check out a video report here about the incident, which also includes the interview with Freed.
The Tesla's owner said the alleged gum-wad vandalism was captured on the built-in cameras of his car, which was in the parking garage of the JCPenney store at the Aventura Mall around 12:45 p.m. March 22.
Yamaris Marrero, 45, of Hallandale Beach was arrested and charged with a felony. Police said she was identified through the video, which showed a vandal smearing the large wad of gum on the car's door handle and then spitting on it. She was also seen getting into a white Honda Pilot before leaving the garage. The Tesla's owner said the damage from the gum rendered the door handle inoperable.
The police report said a security guard spotted Marrero at the mall food court on March 27, after which she was arrested. Police said she made an admission that was redacted from the publicly released report.
Marrero originally was charged for criminal mischief with a hate crime enhancement, but that was dropped on March 28, and the charge was lowered from a second-degree felony to a third-degree felony. She was held on a $2,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The Tesla's owner told WPLG-TV that politics probably motivated the vandalism and that there was no personal interaction between him and the accused woman; police said it was not a traffic dispute.
The interview with the Tesla owner can be viewed on WPLG's video report on YouTube, while the video of the woman smearing the gum can be viewed on an earlier news report.
A witness told Seattle police that on the night of March 13, a male threw gasoline on a Tesla Model S in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, lit the car on fire, and ran off, KING-TV reported.
Police told the station the right front tire area was damaged, while the quarter panel, the hood, and the car's battery all melted. The Seattle Fire Department put out the fire, KING said, adding that police said they are investigating the incident as arson.
The suspect has not been identified, the station said, adding that police found the gas can nearby and obtained security images of the suspect carrying the gas can and a plastic bag.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
An "old man" who was caught on video keying a Tesla in San Jose, California, was arrested for his "act of felony vandalism."
The incident happened in a Costco parking lot between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 14, KRON-TV reported, citing the owner of the vandalized Tesla. The now-viral video shows a male with white hair and a white beard and wearing a USA jacket using a key to scratch the exterior of the Tesla vehicle.
A second video shows a similar-looking male wearing the same jacket getting confronted about the incident, and he denies involvement. The title of the pair of videos is "WATCH THIS: Old man who keyed Tesla in San Jose is confronted."
San Jose Police announced on the night of March 17 that "we successfully identified, located, and arrested the individual responsible for this act of felony vandalism."
You can view KRON's video report here about the incident.
A male was "under investigation" after allegedly keying a Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy mountain resort in New Hampshire in March.
The culprit was caught on video allegedly dragging a key across the vehicle outside the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, Fox News reported.
You can view video here of the alleged vandalism.
The Tesla owner, Kerri Pouliot, told Fox News that she and her husband "were told at the time of the incident that they would be getting a warrant" for the male suspect's arrest.
Pouliot recorded a video when police arrived at the scene, and an officer can be heard asking, "Do you want to talk about what happened here?" the cable network reported.
The accused vandal snapped back, "No, I don’t know what happened," Fox News said.
Police then told the man that they "had him on video," after which the male replied, "I don't know what happened," the cable network noted.
Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader that "the incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorney’s Office," Fox News added.
Pouliot told the cable network that she and her husband have "no intentions of ever selling our truck." Omni Mountain Resort & Spa could not be reached for comment, Fox News said.
A couple in Eugene, Oregon, told KEZI-TV that they found their Tesla vehicles vandalized and spray-painted with the words “divest” and “depose" on the morning of March 20. The couple requested anonymity to protect their safety and added to the station that a camera on their property caught a person approaching the vehicles before dawn. They also said there has been a rise in people being aggressive to them on the road, KEZI reported.
“This is really unfortunate that someone feels they need to vandalize and cost somebody time and money,” one of the victims told the station. “I feel very violated. We’re regular people, we live and work in this community, we contribute to community service.”
The couple added to KEZI that while their vehicles are being repaired, they had to take them to Portland — a nearly two-hour drive — because their insurance company advised them to keep the Teslas away from Eugene. Still, despite the hassle and heartache, the couple told the station they’re happy with their Tesla vehicles and are planning to keep them.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
A federal grand jury charged a Salem, Oregon, male with arson after authorities accused him of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership, the Salem Reporter said.
Adam M. Lansky, 41, now faces two charges of attempted arson in addition to an earlier charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device, the outlet said, citing an indictment filed in Portland U.S. District Court on March 18.
In the new federal case, Lansky is charged with unlawfully possessing a Molotov cocktail and two counts of attempted arson — one for the Tesla dealership building and the second for a Tesla vehicle, the Reporter said.
Lansky was arrested March 4 after a federal investigation linked him to the attempted arson on Jan. 20 and gunshots that destroyed windows on Feb. 19, according to a previous statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the outlet added
More from the Reporter:
Surveillance footage from the dealership on the morning of the arson showed a man lighting around seven Molotov cocktails and throwing them at Tesla vehicles and the dealership. The man also threw a rock at the dealership’s windows, breaking the glass.
The incident caused around $500,000 in damage, including damaging seven Tesla cars, the complaint said.
Lansky is in custody at Yamhill County Jail, according to the county jail roster, and records show he's scheduled to appear in court April 3, the outlet reported. You can view a video report here on the case.
A male wearing all black torched at least five Tesla vehicles with Molotov cocktails and then shot at them just before 3 a.m. March 18, Las Vegas police said, adding that the incident took place at a Tesla Service Center on West Badura Avenue.
The word "resist" was also spray-painted in red onto the door of the service center. A photo on social media showed the vandalism.
Paul Hyon Kim, 36, appeared in court March 27 to face federal arson charges in connection with the incident, the Department of Justice said. Kim faces up to 20 years in prison on the arson charge alone; he also was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.
A 62-year-old male was charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying a Tesla vehicle last month in a Gilbert, Arizona, parking lot — and the incident was caught on the car's video system, KTVK-TV reported.
The Tesla owner, Shant Janesian, noticed the damage on his car, then viewed video recorded by his vehicle, the station said, adding that the culprit keyed his Tesla at SanTan Village.
Janesian filed a report with Gilbert Police, and in addition to viewing the Tesla video, investigators also used surveillance video from surrounding businesses prior to arresting David Moller, KTVK reported.
"Just because something that has nothing to do with me, and he’s just going around keying Teslas over certain political reasons, and it's just like, 'Dude, you don’t even know anything about me,'" Janesian told the station in the aftermath.
KTVK asked the victim what he would say to Moller, and Janesian replied, “Was it worth it? Like, was it worth it? Did you really get anything out of it? Did it really help your cause? Whatever you’re against, or ... was it just a dumb mistake?”
Janesian told the station he'll continue to drive his Tesla. You can view a video report here about the incident.
A video shows a male slamming a suitcase against a Model Y Tesla in a parking lot at Ontario International Airport in southern California, which caused $3,000 in damage.
The Daily Press report cited a March 19 post on X from Spotted Model: Cars & Tech which includes two videos and two still images related to the vandalism that allegedly took place at 9:25 p.m. March 2 in parking lot No. 3.
One video shows the male walking in the parking lot with a suitcase, and he suddenly slams the suitcase into the vehicle and then walks away.
"Although it’s dark, we have lots of detail here, including his suitcase, the logo on his shirt, and a pretty clear facial visual. Unfortunately, police have made little progress in identifying him," the post notes, adding that "in just about any other car, the owner would be out of luck. With Sentry Mode we’ve got a good chance of finding this guy with your help. On behalf of the owner and his family, thank you!"
The paper said airport and city officials have not yet responded to messages about the incident.
A man from Garner, North Carolina, told WRAL-TV his Tesla recently was vandalized.
The station on March 23 reported that the Tesla owner — who gave the station only his first name, Jeremy, since he feared for his safety — that someone etched the word “Nazi” into his Tesla.
“I was working from home, and my wife was out running some errands. [She] came home, and as she was coming in past the car, she saw the damage to it,” Jeremy told WRAL. “We immediately started reviewing the footage from the car because it does have Sentry Mode, but unfortunately we didn’t see anything.”
Jeremy told the station he's not sure when his Tesla was vandalized. He added to WRAL that police also found nothing while checking surveillance videos from stores he's visited.
“I bought this back in 2019 and paid it off a month ago,” he added to WRAL. “This was back in the time when Elon was just some guy tweeting about rocket motors and fast cars and wasn’t problematic at the time.”
A vandal was caught on surveillance video keying three Tesla vehicles last month outside a shopping plaza in Bradenton, Florida, WFLA-TV reported.
You can view a video report here about the incident, which took place in the parking lot of Pinebrook Commons and caused more than $7,000 in damages, police said.
“Two of the Tesla owners, father and son, they were just there enjoying dinner," Bradenton Police Department Public Information Officer Meredith Censullo told the station. "And then there was a third Tesla owner who was, you know, shopping or doing something within that plaza."
Censullo added to WFLA that "it would certainly appear like these cars were chosen because they were Tesla vehicles. At the end of the day, though, it is completely unacceptable to damage anyone’s car."
Tesla owner Russell Blackburn told the station he's concerned: “It has been on my brain, you know, going out to public places. So when I go out with people, I ask them, ‘Do you mind driving?’ Because I don’t want to leave my car unattended."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Forces of light and darkness converged Friday on the Kansas Capitol in Topeka, where the anti-Christian hate group Satanic Grotto planned to hold a "Black Mass" ceremony.
With Shawnee County sheriff's deputies and members of the Knights of Columbus reportedly posted outside, nearby Catholic churches were packed full of the faithful, engaged in Eucharistic Adoration and prayer for the conversion of the satanists, who detailed in advance their intention to dedicate the statehouse to the devil, destroy Bibles, break crucifixes, denounce Christ, and perform "rites to the black mass."
The steps on the south side of the state Capitol were also crowded by opponents of the diabolic, who prayed the rosary under an American flag and amid Jerusalem Cross flags with a bagpiper occasionally blasting tunes to popular hymns.
As promised, lead satanist and founder of the Satanic Grotto Michael Stewart flouted Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's directive to keep outside the state Capitol, where he was permitted to engage in provocative displays of anti-Catholic bigotry that were pre-emptively condemned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City and most state legislators, with the exception of 15 Democrats.
The satanist entered the statehouse, turned violent while dedicating the building to the devil, and was confronted by the only authority he recognizes, video showed.
Footage taken inside on the first floor of the rotunda shows a young onlooker interrupting Stewart's unsanctioned satanic ritual, allegedly grabbing the satanist's mock communion wafer.
Stewart, whose satanic code states that "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority," appears in the video to viciously attack the individual who interrupted him, throwing at least two punches before law enforcement could tackle him to the ground.
'Approach this situation with all confidence in God's ultimate victory over Satan.'
Video published by KCTV-TV shows police handcuffing the apparently violent satanist, then marching him out of the state Capitol while Stewart repeatedly yelled, "Hail Satan" and "I dedicate this building to Satan."
Blaze News reached out to Kansas Capitol Police but was not immediately provided with details regarding Stewart's arrest and possible charges.
Around the time of Stewart's arrest, CatholicVote — which ran an ad campaign imploring Gov. Kelly to prevent the satanists from conducting their "Black Mass" and invited Christians to protest — reiterated, "OUR GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED."
Unlike the satanists, Christian protesters appear to have been entirely peaceful, possibly heeding Archbishop Joseph Naumann's recommendation to "approach this situation with all confidence in God's ultimate victory over Satan, sin, and death."
'We want to see these guys come to the Lord.'
Some of the peaceful Christians who gathered in Topeka to protest the planned satanic ritual came from across and even outside Kansas.
Kent Van Amburg, a Catholic from St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Gladstone, Missouri, told KSNT-TV, "We came here just for this because we feel it's important for us to stand up and show that God is real, Jesus is alive, the powers of evil need to be protested against, and we’re here just to glorify God."
"We want to see these guys come to the Lord," Kelly Lohrke, a pastor at the Cure Church from Kansas City, told the Topeka Capital-Journal. "It's freedom of religion; everybody can be here. But we also have a right to pray."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Satanists plan to flock to the Kansas Statehouse on Friday to dedicate the grounds to the devil, destroy Bibles, break crucifixes, and perform "rites to the black mass." A flyer for the event indicated that as part of their "theuraputic [sic] blesphemy [sic]," the satanists will also denounce Christ, desecrate the Eucharist, and corrupt "the Blood."
While Christian groups have counter-demonstrations planned and there is a new capitol grounds policy in place to prevent a real "Black Mass" from taking place with stolen consecrated hosts, CatholicVote still has hope left that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly could be convinced to shut down the dark ritual on the eve of the event.
CatholicVote, the advocacy group that helped highlight Kamala Harris' anti-Catholic record ahead of the presidential election, released an ad this week imploring Americans to "tell Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly that this act of blasphemy should not take place."
'We cannot passively watch these malicious ideologues stomp on what we cherish most.'
The ad notes that Michael Stewart, the organizer of the event and the head of the anti-Christian hate group Satanic Grotto, "claims the ritual is a protest in support of abortion rights, but this is far more than just a protest. This is blatant anti-Catholic bigotry and a heinous act of blasphemy that should not be allowed to take place."
The ad notes further, "God will not be mocked."
— (@)
"Our ad campaign sounds the alarm on the anti-Catholic bigotry taking place in Kansas," Logan Church, director of political operations at CatholicVote, told Blaze News in a statement. "The Satanic Grotto — a group of self-proclaimed far-left LGBTQ activists — openly attacked our sacred beliefs and plans to profane our Catholic Faith on state grounds. We cannot passively watch these malicious ideologues stomp on what we cherish most."
John Mercer, the vice president of CatholicVote, said of the petition, "It's a stand against hatred and sacrilege. Kansas must NOT become a stage for this desecration. We can't let this happen."
American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property's TFP Student Action has similarly petitioned Kelly to cancel the event, receiving over 51,100 signatures.
It's unclear if these combined efforts have gotten through to Kelly, whose timid response has so far been limited to requiring that the satanists conduct their rituals outside the statehouse.
'We should approach this situation with all confidence in God's ultimate victory over Satan, sin and death.'
Blaze News reached out to the governor's office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
In addition to calling on "all people of faith to join the tens of thousands who have signed our petition demanding this sacrilege be stopped," Logan Church invited Kansas to join CatholicVote at the prayer rally Friday.
TFP Student Action indicated that a rosary rally of reparation will take place at the south side of the Kansas State Capitol building at 10:15 a.m. on March 28.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City, which has underscored its opposition to the event and whose leader, Archbishop Joseph Naumann, filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against the Satanic Grotto, told Catholics, "We must not allow ourselves to be provoked to anger or violence, as that would be cooperation with the devil. Instead, we should approach this situation with all confidence in God's ultimate victory over Satan, sin and death."
The archdiocese invited Catholics concerned about the satanic ritual to attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour at Assumption Church, directly north of the statehouse, at 11 a.m. on Friday, or the Eucharistic Adoration and Mass starting at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart – St. Joseph Catholic Church in Topeka.
Blaze News previously reported that the Kansas state House voted 101-15 last week in support of a resolution denouncing the satanic worship ritual. The resolution, rejected by 15 Democrats, characterized the dark ritual "as a despicable, blasphemous, and offensive sacrilege to not only Catholics but all people of goodwill," adding that "it runs contrary to the spiritual heritage of this state and nation."
The Satanic Grotto suggested in a recent comment to Blaze News that it intended to sodomize the state of Kansas after supposedly doing so to the Catholic Church.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
“The slow seeping of secularism into our government in the name of tolerance” is a cancer in this country, says Blaze News senior politics editor and Washington correspondent Christopher Bedford.
Like actual cancer that attacks healthy cells, secularism “is waging open warfare on the religion that underpins our entire civilization,” which is Christianity.
If it wins, the future of America looks dark.
Someone who’s been exploring this issue in depth is John Daniel Davidson, senior editor of the Federalist.
Davidson recently joined Bedford on “Blaze News Tonight” to share his thoughts on the sickness that’s threatening to destroy the fabric of America.
“The future of a post-Christian America is not going to be this liberal utopia where we all kind of live and let live and we have like a libertarian kumbaya,” says Davidson. “In the absence of the Christian religion being sort of the basis of our society, the basis of our civic culture and our government and our public morality, something else is going to replace that, some other religion, and what I argue is that it'll be a resurgence of paganism.”
There’s already ample evidence that Davidson’s theory is right. Satanic groups are cropping up all over the country.
Bedford points to a Kansas-based group called the Satanic Grotto that is planning to hold a “Black Mass” on March 28 at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka in the name of the First Amendment. According to the event’s Facebook page, the gathering aims to “dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan.” The event apparently will include a Bible-burning and a cross-burning, as well as a mockery of the Catholic Eucharist.
“I think a proper understanding of what America is and where we come from would have to recognize that freedom of religion, like freedom of speech, has its limits, and the founders who instituted freedom of religion never imagined that it would be used as a pretext to attack what they would have called true religion or legitimate religion,” says Davidson.
All of the things that we associate with the American way of life — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, tolerance, consent of the governed, the rule of law, individual rights, the equality of people before the law — “come from Christianity.”
“If you get rid of Christianity, all those things are going to go too,” says Davidson. “It's not going to be the kind of country that you want to live in whether or not you're a Christian.”
Bedford agrees and wonders if this Satanic Grotto as well as the various “after-school Satan clubs” popping up in public education across the country are mostly composed of “useful idiots” pushing a radical leftist agenda or if they really are seeking to destroy Christianity.
Many satanic groups claim that Satan is just a symbol for their social justice causes and not an actual deity they worship.
Davidson, however, says that’s not always the case.
“I think a lot of them are useful idiots, as is often the case, but the ones who are driving it — the radicals, the ideologues, the people who are out here on the front lines trying to stage a Black Mass here in Kansas … they are attacking Christianity, and they're not attacking Christianity because they're radical atheists and secularists. They are people who increasingly do believe in the spiritual world; they do believe in an enchanted cosmos.”
These individuals, he says, “just hate Christianity, and that's why they attack it relentlessly.”
To hear more of the conversation, watch the clip above.
To enjoy more provocative opinions, expert analysis, and breaking stories you won’t see anywhere else, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.
The Kansas state House voted 101-15 on Thursday in support of a resolution denouncing the satanic worship ritual scheduled to take place outside the state Capitol on March 28.
This denunciation, although an important signal to Kansans and the nation, is not law and does not amount to a cancellation of the event. In fact, the satanists still intend to flock to the state grounds and to flout Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly's directive to remain outside the Capitol building.
However, the Satanic Grotto's planned desecration of the Eucharist is now in doubt, given recent indications that the satanists may not actually be in possession of a consecrated host as well as new guidelines adopted for use of the Capitol grounds by the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council, which would make the unlawful possession of a consecrated host grounds for removal.
It appears, therefore, that the satanists' planned "Black Mass" might end up being nothing more than insubstantial anti-Catholic theater exemplifying their bigotry and uniting lawmakers from both parties, Christians from various denominations, and even some nonbelievers in affirming the state's "identity as one nation under God."
Former Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), who has been involved in the efforts to prevent a real Black Mass from taking place at the state Capitol, told Blaze News that the satanists' efforts to provoke Catholics and draw attention to themselves may serve as "spiritual kick in the pants to Christians across Kansas," prompting them to "say, 'Hey, wait a minute — this our state too.'"
The Satanic Grotto, a leftist anti-Christian hate group that appears to be little more than an unpolished knockoff of the Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple, received a permit to hold a "Black Mass" at the Kansas Capitol building in Topeka on March 28.
The group's event listing states that the group will "dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan" and notes further that members "will be performing rites to the black mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme [sic]."
Michael Stewart, the leader of the anti-Christian hate group, told KSNT-TV that he would lead the "Black Mass," noting that he would "heavily lean into the four blasphemies, kind of representing an alternate to the stations of the cross."
The satanists are expected to break crucifixes, tear up at least one Bible, and mock Catholics' central sacrament — intended actions Stewart confirmed in a Wednesday op-ed. A flyer for the event further indicates that as part of their "theuraputic [sic] blesphemy [sic]," the satanists will denounce Christ, desecrate the Eucharist, and corrupt "the Blood."
'God takes Satan to court. Satan wins.'
There has been intense backlash, particularly from Catholic groups in the state who were led to believe by self-identified members of the Grotto that the group had stolen a consecrated host and sought to "use its desecration to manifest the link between Satan and the capital [sic] building."
In addition to social media posts, Chuck Weber, the executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference — a group that leads public policy advocacy efforts on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas — stated in a sworn statement that Stewart told him in a March 8 phone call that he was in possession of one or more consecrated hosts.
In addition to encouraging prayer, inviting the faithful to attended a Eucharistic Holy Hour at a church near the statehouse on March 28, and calling for state officials to cancel the event, the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City filed a lawsuit demanding the return of consecrated hosts the satanists suggested they had stolen.
It is the conviction of the Catholic Church that "at the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood." The archdiocese noted that given the highest importance of the consecrated host and wine to Catholics, any attempt to "desecrate or attempt to destroy or otherwise harm these items is a grave concern to Archbishop [Joseph] Naumann, the Catholic Church, and countless of the Catholic faithful."
Archbishop Naumann demanded resolution through a civil jury trial.
The Leavenworth County District Court dismissed the lawsuit Thursday, prompting the Grotto to state on Facebook, "God takes Satan to court. Satan wins."
Stewart told WIBW-TV that the supposed hosts he has in his possession were not obtained by criminal means.
"We didn't do it," Stewart said, referring to the allegation that he or his compatriots stole consecrated hosts.
Stewart suggested to the Oklahoma Voice that his anti-Christian hate group has its own consecration rituals and will mockingly "consecrate" some unleavened wafers purchased online.
"I find it very entertaining that [Archbishop Naumann] is convinced that I have Jesus trapped in a cracker and he would take it to court," said Stewart.
The Satanic Grotto similarly did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News. The anti-Christian hate group did, however previously provide this response: "The Satanic Grotto says get f**ked blaze news."
Gov. Kelly appeared reluctant early on to condemn the planned event or acknowledge the Grotto as bigots; however, she indicated on March 12 that in order to "keep the statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced," the group's anti-Christian demonstration would have to take place outside.
The satanists maintain that they will enter the state Capitol building to perform their dark ritual, even if that means they'll end up in handcuffs.
The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment.
Huelskamp told Blaze News that like Gov. Kelly's "really weak" response to the "Black Mass," the response from the Kansas legislature was also "pretty timid."
"The general philosophy was, 'Well, if we ignore evil, it will go away,'" said Huelskamp. "But what I've seen in the last couple days — I've been in touch with a lot of legislators who are really stepping up, saying, 'You know what? We need to take a stand on this.' And they have."
Kansas House Resolution 6016 states that the "planned satanic worship ritual is an explicit act of anti-Catholic bigotry and an affront to all Christians. It blasphemes our shared values of faith, decency, and respect that strengthen our communities."
Those who voted for the resolution affirmed that they denounced "the planned satanic worship ritual scheduled to take place on the grounds of the people's house, the Kansas state Capitol grounds, on March 28, 2025, as a despicable, blasphemous, and offensive sacrilege to not only Catholics but all people of goodwill, and it runs contrary to the spiritual heritage of this state and nation."
"We call upon all Kansans to promote unity, mutual respect, and the values that uphold our identity as one nation under God," added the resolution.
The resolution passed in a bipartisan 101-15 vote.
While some Democrats voted for the resolution, all 15 state legislators who voted against denouncing the satanic ritual were Democrats, namely Reps. Wanda Paige, John Carmichael, Ford Carr, Jo Ella Hoye, Heather Meyer, Silas Miller, Brooklynne Mosley, Melissa Oropeza, Dan Osman, Jarrod Ousley, Susan Ruiz, Alexis Simmons, Lindsay Vaughn, Valdenia Winn, and Rui Xu.
The Kansas Catholic Conference stated, "We are shocked and appalled that 15 Democrats voted NO," adding, "Anti-Catholic bigotry is alive and well in Kansas."
'It's the same arguments that the pro-KKK people had in the 1920s.'
Kansas state Rep. Sean Tarwater, a practicing Catholic, said, "What eats at me the most is that I fear for the souls of those that are going to be involved with this Black Mass, and especially for those that are supporting the Black Mass in this room and on that committee," reported the Kansas Reflector.
Huelskamp told Blaze News that "we're still looking for a little more from the legislature," underscoring that the matter at hand is plainly a battle between good and evil.
Huelskamp, a Catholic with four adopted black children, noted that Kansas has a really proud history of repelling bigots, highlighting the battle that made it the first state in the union to ban the Ku Klux Klan.
"In the 1920s — 100 years ago — the KKK tried to make a big entrance into Kansas. There was a significant political battle," said the former congressman. "They refused to recognize the KKK and they kicked them out of the state."
"All of the arguments of the left on this, on the satanists, it's the same arguments that the pro-KKK people had in the 1920s. 'Hey, it's free speech.' 'Let them come in, free to organize.' Eventually, the State of Kansas — I think the '24 election — said, 'No. We will not let the KKK in the state,'" continued Huelskamp. "I mean, at that time, there were rallies of 50,000 Kansans that were KKK supporters demanding recognition by the state."
"I'm still upset the [Kansas] secretary of state, Scott Schwab, recognized the satanists when he gave them nonprofit status," said Huelskamp. "We might like to go back and re-examine whether any group, you know, any hate group just receives automatic recognition by the State of Kansas. So 100 years ago, we said the KKK didn't qualify. So how did the satanists qualify? It's obviously a hate group in my books."
Catholics and Christians from other denominations plan to protest the "Black Mass."
TFP Student Action has, for instance, invited counterprotesters to attend a rosary rally of reparation at the south side of the Kansas state Capitol building at 10:15 a.m. on March 28.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
A satanic organization plans to hold a "Black Mass" at the Kansas Capitol in Topeka on March 28, mocking Christians — particularly Catholics, their faith, their central sacrament, and the stations of the cross.
Proponents of the anti-Christian hate group, which maintains that "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority," apparently intend to break crosses, destroy Bibles, and dedicate the Capitol building to the devil.
The Satanic Grotto originally planned to hold its dark ritual inside the Capitol, but following backlash, the group was informed that organizers would have to take their mockery of Christians outside. The satanists bemoaned their pre-emptive ouster, threatening to break into the statehouse and suggesting that their First Amendment rights may have been infringed.
Dr. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, and others told Blaze News that contrary to the satanists' contention, lawmakers are within their rights not only to keep the planned "Black Mass" ritual out of the statehouse but to keep it off government property.
Apparently Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach (R) and Kansas lawmakers agreed.
The state Legislative Coordinating Council has amended Capitol grounds policy to prevent a "Black Mass" from taking place, and Kobach noted that in this circumstance it would be appropriate "for the state not to facilitate this crime occurring either inside the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds."
In the event that the Grotto flouts the prohibition and follows through on its threat, Kansas Catholic groups and other opponents of the demonic are planning to hold a counter-demonstration on site as well as to pray for the conversion of the satanists.
The Satanic Grotto is a leftist anti-Christian hate group that goes out of its way to provoke adherents of the Abrahamic religions both with demonic imagery and by denigrating their faith.
This unpolished, less organized knockoff of the Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple identifies as a "non-denominational satanic church that utilizes philosophies from many walks of the left hand path." Among the leftist outfit's stated goals is support for satanic art and culture, the promotion of satanic education, and political advocacy for "pluralistic change."
'Kansas will be embrace by the black flame of Lucifer.'
The satanist knockoff group, like the better-known Satanic Temple, appears to be insincere about its claims of religiosity and religionhood — using these claims as an excuse for such anti-Christian demonstrations. Nevertheless, John Daniel Davidson, the author of "Pagan America: The Decline of Christianity and the Dark Age to Come," told Blaze News that they "are indeed in service to demonic powers even if they personally don't believe in the existence of them."
"Such a thing is not only possible but quite common," said Davidson. "When insincere satanists invoke the devil or other demons, they are calling on real created beings that have agency and will and power. If these beings are invited, they will come. It's foolish — and indeed quite dangerous — for the Satanic Grotto to suppose that because it uses the term 'satanist' ironically or sarcastically, then its practitioners are safe from the machinations and malevolence of Satan. They're not."
The group recently shared an event listing inviting people to join them at the Capitol building in Topeka to "dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan."
"We will be performing rites to the Black Mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme [sic]," said the event listing. "God will fall and Kansas will be embraced by the black flame of Lucifer. Hail Satan."
Michael Stewart, the leader of the anti-Christian hate group, noted that he received a permit to hold the "Black Mass" at the state Capitol on March 27.
Responding to a 2014 Satanic Temple re-enactment of a satanic Mass on the Harvard campus, Monsignor Roger Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States, struck a distinction between political stunts by "publicity-hounding satanic groups," and the diabolic worship undertaken by "committed believers in the devil who don't send out press releases and whose clandestine Black Masses always feature stolen consecrated Hosts."
In the early days of Black Masses, rebellious clerics consecrated the Eucharist during the ceremony before defiling the Host with spit, blood, urine, excrement, sexual fluids, and blasphemies. Since renegade ex-priests willing to debase what they once adored are hard to find, however, Satan worshippers eventually began to resort to stealing consecrated Hosts by breaking into church tabernacles or taking them from Mass.
Chuck Weber, executive director of the Kansas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic Bishops of Kansas, suggested the "Black Mass" that the Grotto has planned will be more of the "publicity-hounding" variety, calling it an "act of bigotry from a small minority who crave public attention by insulting Christians."
Stewart told KSNT-TV that he would lead the "Black Mass," calling it an "act of defiance." He further indicated that the Grotto would "heavily lean into the four blasphemies, kind of representing an alternate to the stations of the cross."
Stewart subsequently suggested to the Topeka Capital-Journal that the event was a "specific response to our legislatures continuing to pander to groups like the Kansas Catholic Conference and to Kansans for Life, where they keep trying to come back and attack abortion rights, much less other rights."
'It would [do so] in violation of the constitutional tenets established in Lynch v. Donnelly.'
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly refrained from characterizing the Grotto as bigots but indicated on March 12 that in order to "keep the statehouse open and accessible to the public while ensuring all necessary health and safety regulations are enforced," the group's anti-Christian demonstration would have to take place outside.
Kelly noted in her lukewarm statement that while there were "more constructive ways to protest and express disagreements without insulting or denigrating sacred religious symbols," she had a duty "to protect protesters' constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, regardless of how offensive or distasteful I might find the content to be."
The group seeking Kansas' "embrace by the black flame of Lucifer" still did not take the news well.
"We will not be swept aside to protect your career madam. We will not acquiesce the same rights you have afforded to other religious organizations. You do not get to decide what is appropriate for us," stated the satanic group. "Your only job is to protect your constituents constitutional rights. You have failed in this in the most cowardly way, like Pontius Pilate washing his hands."
The satanists are planning to defy the governor and execute their dark ritual inside the state Capitol on March 28.
"The Satanic Grotto lead by its President Michael Stewart will enter the state capitol building and perform our ritual on March 28," the Grotto noted in its statement. "You will have to have us arrested to stop us from practicing our free speech and religious rights."
Whereas the violence championed by the Satanic Temple — which is basically a devil-branded Enlightenment cult that supports hyper-individualism and secularism — appears to be limited to the unborn babies it seeks to help mothers kill at an average cost of $91 per head via its satanic abortion clinics, the Grotto appears to excuse all forms of violence if exercised by the maximally powerful.
According to the "Law of the Grotto," "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority."
Blaze News asked the Grotto a number of questions, including whether it would rule out the use of violence on March 28. The response was: "The Satanic Grotto says get f**ked blaze news."
While the satanists are prevented from legally holding their dark ritual inside the state Capitol, lawmakers and the Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City figured it would be better to boot their dark ritual off state property altogether.
Catholic League President Bill Donohue suggested that not only should Kansas refuse to permit the "Black Mass" outside the Capitol building, it has an obligation not to allow it on state property.
"If a private institution uses private space to perform a 'Black Mass,' it is protected by the First Amendment," Donohue noted in a written statement to Blaze News. "But if the government were to authorize a 'Black Mass,' it would [do so] in violation of the constitutional tenets established in Lynch v. Donnelly (1984): the Constitution forbids hostility to religion. And the Satanic Grotto has admitted that its purpose is to blaspheme Catholics."
"The one planned in Kansas is being launched by a private group, the Satanic Grotto, so that part is constitutional," continued Donohue. "However, it is being done on public grounds near the Kansas statehouse, and thus it could be argued that the government is giving tacit endorsement to it. That is why the event should be moved to a spot where no one would think the government is sanctioning the 'Black Mass.'"
Donohue noted further that "state lawmakers have a right to object on constitutional grounds and should therefore seek to have the permit revoked."
Donohue was hardly alone in his assessment of lawmakers' duty and ability under the law.
John Horvat II, vice president of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property's TFP Student Action, noted that "total cancellation is the only reasonable option."
"Public officials are elected to foster the common good of society. Satanism, by definition, is evil and therefore harmful to the common good. That’s why the Kansas state Capitol and its grounds should not be misused as a platform for evil to defile what is sacred or mock what is most holy," added Horvat.
'This is to be expected, as he works for the prince of lies.'
John Davidson told Blaze News, "These kinds of stunts are explicitly anti-Christian and not be construed as 'religious' activities or services. They are public attacks against one religion, Christianity, and should be understood in that light."
"As such, they shouldn't be permitted or allowed to take place at all," continued Davidson. "Religious freedom was never meant to sanction, let alone endorse, religions that are hostile to our American heritage and the Christian faith which is the substance of our heritage."
State legislators apparently are using the allegation of theft to cancel the event.
Lawmakers belonging to the Kansas Legislative Coordinating Council met on Tuesday and unanimously passed new guidelines pertaining to the use of Capitol property, which include a prohibition on gatherings if the actions of the group or its members are unlawful.
Now, people cannot gather if a group or a member of a group "has stated explicitly that the meeting or gathering will involve a violation of law," reported the Kansas Reflector.
Grace Hoge, a spokeswoman for Gov. Kelly, indicated that the "governor's office is reviewing actions from the Legislative Coordinating Council."
A stolen consecrated host is required in order for an authentic "Black Mass" to proceed, hence the suggestion that the new guidelines preclude the satanic ritual from taking place on Capitol grounds.
The Kansas Republican Party previously indicated that if the group intends to use a real consecrated Eucharist, "then it was obtained via theft or deception, meaning these people are in possession of stolen property."
Attorney General Kobach noted, "You cannot use the cloak of the First Amendment to commit crimes, and here there would be at least two crimes committed on state property," referring to the alleged theft and intended destruction of a consecrated host.
Catholic Archbishop Joseph Naumann also filed a lawsuit Friday against the Grotto seeking the immediate recovery and return of whatever consecrated hosts and wine are currently in the satanists' possession.
"We are fully aware that the Satanic group and its leader have made conflicting and contradictory claims about their possession of the Sacred Eucharist," Chuck Weber of the Kansas Catholic Conference said in a statement Tuesday. "This is to be expected, as he works for the prince of lies. Sadly, there is enough evidence to believe that this group does in fact have the Eucharist. We cannot take chances, and we will continue to pursue, to the extent possible, every practical legal action to secure what rightfully belongs to the Catholic Church."
"I find it very entertaining that he is convinced that I have Jesus trapped in a cracker and he would take it to court," Stewart said in a recent interview.
TFP Student Action was quick to condemn the Grotto's event, noting that prayer and action proved decisive in May 2014 when satanists attempted to hold a "Black Mass" at Harvard University.
"Saint Michael won a great victory that day. And God can win again now," wrote TFP Student Action.
The conservative group has a petition form on its website, which quickly surpassed its initial goal of 7,000 signatures and at the time of publication was roughly 9,000 signatures short of its 50,000 signature goal.
'Satanic worship is disturbing, spiritually harmful, and an affront to every Christian.'
"The only purpose of a black mass is to attack God, mock the Catholic Mass, and desecrate the Holy Eucharist," John Horvat II, vice president of TFP Student Action said in a statement. "Satanists typically desecrate a stolen consecrated Host in unspeakable ways. Nothing is more obscene, indecent, and hateful."
TFP Student Action has invited counterprotesters to attend a rosary rally of reparation at the south side of the Kansas state Capitol building at 10:15 a.m. on March 28.
Davidson told Blaze News that praying the rosary outside the satanists' event would be a great response on the part of Catholics, noting that by invoking "the intercession and protection of Our Lady, the satanist event would not happen at all. The satanists would be forced to abandon their event in defeat."
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kansas City noted in a March 14 statement that Archbishop Naumann and the Kansas Catholic Conference are asking the faithful to pray for the conversion of those taking part in this "act of anti-Christian bigotry" and noted that "legal options are being explored.
"Satanic worship is disturbing, spiritually harmful, and an affront to every Christian," said the archdiocese. "Participants may claim that the destructive and offensive acts during a 'black mass' are part of their religious freedom or free speech rights under the First Amendment. However, these rights have limits and do not allow individuals to act in ways that include or incite lawless behavior."
"We are deeply disappointed that such blasphemous acts that are intended to mock Catholic worship, the beliefs of all Christians, and those who believe in the one true God are being allowed on the Kansas statehouse grounds," continued the archdiocese. "We call upon Governor Kelly and the state legislature to disallow this act of blasphemy to take place, which is clearly designed to mock Christianity and be provocative."
'Politicians who align themselves with satanists have no political future.'
In addition to encouraging prayer, the Catholic archdiocese invited the faithful to attend a Mass on Mach 25 where Archbishop Naumann will reconsecrate the state to Jesus as well as to attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour at Assumption Church, just north of the statehouse, on March 28, which will be followed by Mass; to spread Christ's love through acts of charity on March 28, whether through the Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas or other organizations; and to implore Gov. Kelly, the Kansas Senate president, and the Kansas speaker of the state House to cancel the permit for the event.
Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, pledged prayers throughout the remainder of this month for the conversion of the hearts of those who participate in the satanic event.
Stephen Minnis, president of the college, stated, "Pope Francis has reminded the Church that our greatest battle is a spiritual one against evil and said, 'For this spiritual combat, we can count on the powerful weapons that the Lord has given us,' especially the Eucharist and the rosary."
Blaze News reached out to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and to the Kansas District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, regarding whether they were similarly taking or recommending action. Neither responded by deadline.
Michael Cassidy, the Christian Navy veteran who toppled a satanic statue at the Iowa Capitol just before Christmas 2023, told Blaze News, "Our ancestors would look in horror at explicitly anti-Christian activities being sanctioned by civil authorities. [The Colombian philosopher Nicolás Gómez] Dávila said, 'The modern world demands that we approve what it should not even dare ask us to tolerate.' Kansas should make it clear that politicians who align themselves with satanists have no political future."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Police responding to a reported burglary Saturday morning found "extensive vandalism" at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Wichita, Kansas. In addition to broken windows, toppled statutes, and a torched American flag, police found "hate speech" of an apparently diabolical nature.
When asked about the incident, President Donald Trump, who signed an executive order last month directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to "eradicate anti-Christian bias" in the federal government, told reporters, "I think it's a terrible thing."
"We're going to take a look. I love Wichita," said Trump. "I'm going to take a look at it."
The Wichita Police Department announced Sunday that they arrested a 23-year-old Saline County man in connection with the anti-Christian attack.
"Recognizing the severity of this crime, WPD officers and investigators — alongside the [Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives] — immediately launched a full-scale investigation," the police department noted in a statement. "Our dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect."
'Attacks against churches are disgraceful.'
Sedgwick County booking records indicate that the suspect, Michael Gonzalez, has been slapped with multiple charges in connection with the church attack, including criminal desecration, burglary, and criminal damage to property.
According to the Kansas Catholic Conference, the vandal scrawled a satanic website link on the wall — timely because the Satanic Grotto, an unpolished knockoff of the Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple, plans to hold a "Black Mass" at the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka on March 28, mocking Catholics, their faith, their central sacrament, and the Stations of the Cross.
The Grotto, which asserts that "only might is right and violence is the ultimate source of all authority," indicated in a listing for its anti-Catholic event that it plans to "dedicate the grounds and our legislature to the glory of Satan" and will "be performing rites to the Black Mass and indulging in sacrilegious blaspheme."
The Grotto joked about the church attack, writing, "I really thought he'd be wearing a cape."
"This is the face of evil," said the KCC in reference to the vandalism at St. Patrick's.
Chuck Weber, executive director of the KCC, told the Catholic News agency that there is presently no evidence linking the vandalism at St. Patrick's in Wichita to the Satanic Grotto but indicated that Michael Stewart, the leftist leader of the Grotto, has been calling the KCC with the aim of "taunting me and the bishops" and boasting of his intent to "kill Jesus."
The KCC noted that parishioners at the predominantly Hispanic parish in the working-class neighborhood of North-Central Wichita were unable to attend Mass at the church on Saturday evening as a result of the vandalism. However, WPD Chief Joe Sullivan said after attending the St. Patrick Catholic Church St. Patrick's Day parade on Sunday that the "congregation and the community came together in celebration."
"Their resilience was evident, especially after the heartbreaking burglary and vandalism that occurred yesterday," added Sullivan.
Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran (R) noted, "The parish of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita has demonstrated faith & fortitude these last few days. Attacks against churches are disgraceful. I appreciate @WichitaPolice acting quickly to investigate & arrest a suspect connected to this crime."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Kansas Jayhawks baseball had a record day en route to a massive 29-run game in Minnesota.
The Jayhawks visited a mostly empty U.S. Bank Stadium — home of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings — to take on the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
After not scoring a run in the first inning, Kansas was down 1-0 to Minnesota. The Jayhawks responded in the second inning, however, with an RBI single, followed by a two-run single and a two-run home run.
With the game at 5-1 in the top of the third, Kansas started a monstrous run of five consecutive home runs to tie an NCAA record.
Chase Diggins started things off with a three-run home run that had Minnesota's center fielder run right through an outfield wall in what would turn out to be an omen that things were about to go horribly wrong.
Max Soliz Jr., Brady Counsell, Brady Ballinger, and Jackson Hauge followed up with four more solo home runs, resulting in clip after clip of the Jayhawks rounding the bases that inning.
'With 5-straight home runs in the top of the 3rd inning, [Kansas Baseball] ties the NCAA record for consecutive home runs," the team boasted on their X page.
"It marks the first time since 2006 (South Carolina) and the fourth time in NCAA DI history, while it's the first in [Big 12 Conference] history," Kansas added.
'I can't believe you actually posted it.'
In total, Kansas would score 29 runs while Minnesota would not score again. The 28-run margin was the program's largest victory since 1993 and its most runs ever against a Division I opponent, Kansas said on its website.
The Golden Gophers were obviously deflated from the loss, with the team simply reporting a final score on their social media page:
"Final from U.S. Bank Stadium: Kansas 29, Minnesota 1," the post sadly read.
"I can't believe you actually posted it," a Kansas fan wrote, representing the most-engaged reply on the post.
— (@)
According to Sportskeeda, Nebraska holds the NCAA record for most runs scored in a single game with 50, a feat they accomplished against Chicago State on March 16, 1999.
Other NCAA records that are considered unbeatable include Jim LaFountain's three grand slams in one game in 1976, Robin Ventura's 58-game hitting streak in 1987, and Marshall McDougall's 16 RBIs in a game in 1999.
As for Major League Baseball, the record for most consecutive home runs stands at four, accomplished 11 times, according to Guinness World Records.
The most recent instance was the St. Louis Cardinals in July 2022 during a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The record was first set in July 1961 by the Milwaukee Braves.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
'Federal funds should not have been used to influence our elections,' said GOP Rep. Bryan Steil.
www.theblaze.com