The Satanic Temple said the destruction of its holiday display at the New Hampshire State House is not only a crime but a shame and a waste.

Concord city officials said they had to decide “whether to ban all holiday displays” and opted instead to grant a permit for the Satanic display “to avoid litigation.”

The mayor of Concord, New Hampshire said that while he disapproves of vandalism he also wishes city officials hadn’t issued a permit for the display.

The city of Concord calls the decision to allow the Satanic Temple’s statue to go up a ‘show of unity and religious pluralism.’

New Hampshire's state capitol was forced to allow a Satanic "holiday display" under the threat of a free speech lawsuit before vandals tore it down.

The Satanic Temple continues its annual holiday tradition of erecting satanic displays near Nativity scenes on government property by unveiling a statue of the demon Baphomet on the grounds of the

Only the legs of the black mannequin remained upright, while the strewn head and torso were damaged. The entire display was removed Tuesday. The post Satanist holiday display near New Hampshire Nativity scene destroyed after apparent vandalism appeared first on Boston.

The city of Concord, New Hampshire last week defended a holiday display in its city plaza created by a local Satanic Temple group. The display was installed following a request from the temple, the city announced via Facebook.