Satanic Temple display inside Iowa State Capitol building

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DES MOINES, Iowa — If you are visiting the Iowa Statehouse over the next couple of weeks, you might see a holiday display set up by the Satanic Temple. It features a ram's head covered with mirrors on a mannequin cloaked in red clothing.

Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple, says this satanic display is a symbol of their right to religious freedom. "We're going to really relish the opportunity to be represented in a public forum. We don't have a church on every street corner," Greaves said.

Greaves says if you don't like it, don't look at it.

"My feeling is if people don't like our display in public forums, they don't have to engage with them. They don't have to view them," Greaves said.

Shellie Flockhart from Dallas Center says she was shocked to see at the capitol. "It's a very dark, evil force, and I truly hope people know how to battle that," Flockhart said.

Flockhart organized a prayer group on Wednesday around the Christmas tree in the center of the rotunda to oppose the satanic display near the stairwell. She calls it dark and evil and says Christians should spiritually fight against it.

"I hope that people realize spiritual warfare is real. That there are evil satanic forces that are trying to infiltrate our state," she said.

The Satanic Temple says the display will be up for 14 days.

The Satanic Temple says it is a federally recognized non-theistic group, that uses satanic symbols as a way to convey its message. Their website says the group does not worship Satan or believe in the existence of Satan.

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