A so-called “Black Mass” event at the Kansas State Capitol took a dramatic turn on Friday when Michael Stewart, the founder of the Satanic Grotto, was arrested after getting into a physical altercation. The incident, which played out in front of hundreds of Christian protestors, ended with Stewart being tackled to the ground by law enforcement.
Stewart, who leads the Satanic Grotto—a group that promotes the “Left-Hand Path” of Satanism—entered the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka on Friday morning, reportedly intending to hold a public ritual. According to WIBW News, law enforcement officials had already informed him that while he was welcome inside, demonstrations would not be permitted.
However, Stewart ignored this directive. Upon entering the Capitol rotunda, he raised his arms and began making a dedication to Satan. This immediately provoked a reaction from onlookers. A woman confronted him, asserting that he was not allowed to conduct such a display, while a man approached him in prayer, holding a medallion. As tensions escalated, another individual stepped in, and Stewart soon found himself in a physical confrontation.
In footage posted by CatholicVote, Stewart can be seen raising his arms before another individual attempted to remove an object from his hand. The situation quickly deteriorated as Stewart appeared to punch the person, triggering a physical scuffle. Within moments, law enforcement intervened, restraining Stewart and bringing him to the ground.
The so-called Black Mass was met with overwhelming opposition. According to KSNT News, while Stewart and his supporters numbered only around 20, an estimated 300 to 400 Christians gathered outside the Capitol to protest the event. Many held prayers, rosaries, and crosses as a show of faith against the Satanic demonstration.
Even before the Capitol confrontation, Christian leaders had mobilized to counter the event with prayer. Catholic churches across the state hosted special masses and prayer vigils. In Topeka, Assumption Catholic Church held a holy hour and a true Mass, drawing such a large crowd that overflow worshippers had to be directed to another church a mile away, which also reached full capacity.
Stewart was taken into custody by the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, facing charges of unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct. Reports indicate that the 21-year-old man involved in the altercation with Stewart was also arrested, along with several other individuals who were present at the scene.
Prior to the event, Stewart had claimed that the “Black Mass” was meant to assert Satanists’ place in the public sphere and express their feelings of exclusion. However, instead of making a statement, Stewart’s actions resulted in his arrest, a complete failure of his attempted demonstration.
For the thousands of Christians who gathered to pray, the day was a testament to faith overcoming darkness. The massive outpouring of prayer, the sheer numbers that dwarfed the satanic group, and the peaceful resolve of the faithful served as a powerful counter to the attempted provocation.
As one attendee noted, “God makes beauty out of chaos.” While the Satanists sought to spread disorder, Christians responded with peace, prayer, and unity.
In the end, the so-called Black Mass ended not with defiance, but with handcuffs.
