Christian Veteran Who Tore Down Satanic Shrine Featured at TPUSA America Fest in Phoenix

December 23, 2023 ADI Staff Reporter
cassidy
Michael Cassidy

The Christian veteran who tore down the controversial Satanic shrine in the Iowa, Michael Cassidy, was featured at Turning Point USA (TPUSA) America Fest in Phoenix last weekend.

Cassidy, a candidate for the Mississippi state legislature and Navy veteran, tore down The Satanic Temple’s display of Baphomet, the pagan demon with a goat’s head, wings, and bare torso last week. Cassidy was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Cassidy asked the crowd how many agree that the country should reject the devil and honor God. Cassidy asked the Christians to get more involved with their church, and for non-Christians to seek out God’s word.

“If you are a Christian, please do not be ashamed of your faith. The world tells us to be ashamed of our faith, the world teaches us to keep that light under the bushel. That’s not what Jesus tells us to do. Jesus tells us to not be ashamed of him and his words,” said Cassidy.

Cassidy called the Satanic shrine “an abomination.” He shared that one father sent him a piece of hate mail complaining that Cassidy’s destruction meant he couldn’t show his young daughter the shrine in the state capitol anymore.

“The devil is real, and we have to be wary of him,” said Cassidy. “We should not listen to those that tell us that Satan and Jesus Christ are the same.”

Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, who introduced Cassidy, said it was time for Christians to “rise up and fight back” against a secularized society.

“It is time for Christians to rise up and fight back. It’s time,” said Posobiec.

Cassidy likely would have already been in Congress, had he not been flooded out of his 2022 congressional race by funding from former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to save Cassidy’s “RINO” incumbent opponent that backed the Democrats’ January 6 inquest.

Cassidy voluntarily turned himself into the police after beheading and trampling the shrine. The severed Satan head was thrown into a garbage can. The Satanic Temple opted to press charges.

The Satanic Temple has grown its influence across all states, including Arizona. The anti-theist religion hosted its first-ever SatanCon in Scottsdale last year. The Satanic Temple held the convention after it unsuccessfully sued the city for refusing to allow the organization to deliver “an invocation” before city council meetings.

The Satanic Temple maintains that it doesn’t worship Satan but the self. According to the organization, Satan serves as a metaphorical literary figure for them.

The Satanic Temple also made an unsuccessful attempt to launch one of its After School Satan Clubs in Tucson in 2016. They may have better luck this time around, since they obtained their nonprofit public charity status in 2019, a designation reserved for the likes of churches.

That year, 2016, Satanic Temple activists successfully put a stop to the practice of opening prayers at the Phoenix City Council.

Not long before he tore down the Satanic shrine, Cassidy shared commentary from Blaze host Auron MacIntyre reflecting on a comparison by the right-wing meme account “End Wokeness” on the removal of Thomas Jefferson monuments and the protection of Satan monuments. Based on the timing of the incident, it appears the post prompted Cassidy to act.

“We have reached a point where our Capitols are removing Jefferson while monuments to Satan are erected. Realize where we are,” stated the post.

After his arrest, Cassidy posted a Bible verse.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 1 Peter 5:8 KJV,” cited Cassidy.

The conservative news outlet, Republican Sentinel, broke the story on Cassidy and launched a legal defense fund for him.

Within hours, independent donors raised the initial $20,000 needed for Cassidy’s initial defense.

However, Cassidy’s legal fees continue to mount.

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