FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Satanic Temple Formally Petitions Arkansas for

Placement of Monument on State Capitol Grounds

The Satanic Temple has officially filed a letter with Arkansas

requesting to place their controversial Baphomet monument
alongside the 10 Commandments on Capitol grounds
NEW YORK, NY September 8, 2015 In a letter sent via
certified mail to Arkansas Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission,
The Satanic Temple (TST) formally requested permission to
place their controversial Baphomet monument alongside a 10
Commandments monument at the Capitol in Little Rock. The
request comes in reply to the approval of AR Senate Bill 939
which has allowed for a privately donated 10 Commandments
monument to be placed at the Capitol. The bill hopes to
preemptively head-off an Establishment Clause dispute by
asserting the secular nature of the 10 Commandments, stating
that the monument represents an important component of the
moral foundation of the laws and legal system of the United
States of America and the State of Arkansas.

TST argues that if the State has opened the public grounds to
private donations, they cannot engage in viewpoint discrimination
and must reasonably allow for other donations of a similar
nature. In their letter to the Arts and Grounds Commission, TST
co-founder Malcolm Jarry states, We have reviewed SB939,
which authorized the placement of a 10 Commandments
monument at the Arkansas State Capitol, and the Baphomet

statue we would like to contribute shall fulfill the same intended

purposes. The letter goes on to explain that TSTs monument is
a memorial to the various historical witch hunts, and homage to
the persecuted free-thinkers and heretics who helped inform
American secular jurisprudence. To that end, an inscription on
the monument shall read, Be it known to all that this statue
commemorates the history of law in the United States of
America. From the deplorable Satanic Witch Hunts, the
cherished doctrines of due process, presumption of innocence
and the protection of minorities from the tyranny of mob rule
became part of the established foundation of American
jurisprudence."

TST argues that the influence upon American law symbolized by

their monument is profoundly clearer [than that of the
Decalogue] because not one of the 10 Commandments appears
in the US Constitution either in text or spirit.

TST is prepared to pursue legal options if their application is

rejected or ignored. The Arkansas legislature unwittingly opened
the door for our monument to be erected at Little Rock, while
they clearly believed they could preference the 10
Commandments, states TST spokesperson Lucien Greaves. In
fact, the law doesnt work that way. The State either allows for an
open forum available to private donors, or it does not. The
Legislature doesnt need to approve our monument, as the
approval of the 10 Commandments already established the
parameters by which monuments are allowed on Capitol
Grounds. We clearly meet all their criteria with Baphomet.

About The Satanic Temple

The mission of The Satanic Temple is to encourage benevolence

and empathy among all people, reject tyrannical authority,
advocate practical common sense and justice, and be directed
by the human conscience to undertake noble pursuits guided by
the individual will. Civic-minded, The Satanic Temple has been
involved in a number of good works including taking a stand
against the controversial and extremist Westboro Baptist Church.
For more information about The Satanic Temple, please visit
http://www.thesatanictemple.com/.

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Media Relations Contact:

Gina Jones
Public Relations
720-220-5339
ginajonespr@gmail.com