All hell broke loose in Boston Saturday for the city’s annual SatanCon when hundreds showed up to protest the devilish event with signs declaring “Satan has NO rights!” and “Hellfire awaits!”
Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the controversial convention is hosted by the Salem-based Satanic Temple — which does not worship the Bible’s Satan as a deity, instead uses satanic imagery to “reject tyrannical authority” and promote the separation of church and state, according to its website.
The protests came amid reports of a video showing moderators ripping out pages of a Bible and destroying a “Thin Blue Line” flag, which is flown in support of law enforcement, according to the Catholic News Agency.
On Saturday, Catholic protesters were joined by members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front, according to the Boston Herald.
One protester carried a banner that read “Satan has NO rights!” while another’s stated, “Don’t be deceived! Homosexuals, baby killers, idolaters, unbelieving, liars, drunkards, gossips, cowards, thieves, mockers, fornicators: Hellfire awaits.”
SatanCon notably dedicated this year’s festivities to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, who the group sued for refusing to allow them to give an opening prayer before city council meetings.
The sold-out weekend event was reportedly met with opposition on its opening day Friday with more than 100 Catholic protesters outside its venue, the Marriott Copley Place.
The Archdiocese of Boston previously released a letter asking Massachusetts Catholics “not to organize or encourage others to go to the event to protest,” although people “are appropriately concerned by such an event taking place in Boston,” MassLive reported.
The theme of this year’s SatanCon is “Hexennacht in Boston,” which translates to “Witches’ Night, and Saturday’s roster includes panels on “Deconstructing Your Religious Upbringing,” “Reclaiming the Trans Body” and “Sins of the Flesh: Satanism and Self-Pleasure.”
SatanCon continues through Sunday afternoon.