The Satanic Temple (TST) is advertising its second convention to be held in Boston, Massachusetts this spring as the “largest Satanic gathering in history.” The convention known as “SatanCon 2023” will be held on April 28-30, and is being promoted as “a weekend of blasphemy and remembrance in Boston.”
The theme of the convention is “Hexennacht in Boston” or “Witches Night,” an ancient German holiday that occurs annually on April 30. Even though tickets are already on sale, the actual location for the event, speakers, or vendors has not been announced.
According to the event’s website, the convention is dedicated to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu for “her unconstitutional efforts to keep TST out of Boston’s public spaces.”
Based in Salem, Massachusetts, the group had requested to fly a Satanic flag over Boston City Hall after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last May that the city violated the free speech rights of a conservative activist seeking to fly a Christian flag on a pole outside the downtown building.
TST tweeted a copy of their request filed with the city property management department to raise a flag marking “Satanic Appreciation Week” scheduled in July. There has been no response from the city on TST’s flag request. The city has said it stopped flying flags in 2021.
TST also sued the Boston City Council in January of 2021, arguing that the council violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the free exercise clause of the Massachusetts Constitution by not inviting the Satanists to “pray” before their meetings.
In Boston, city council members are allowed to invite any religious leader of their choosing to offer an opening prayer. The city contends that it is perfectly legal for council members to select specific individuals to pray, and in 2021, a U.S. District Court agreed with the city on that issue. The Satanic Temple is separate from the Church of Satan, which was founded in the 1960s.
Founded in 2013, TST says it doesn’t believe in Satan but describes itself as a “non-theistic religious organization” that advocates for secularism. On its website, under the question “Do You Worship Satan?” in the Frequently Asked Questions section, TST answers: “No, nor do we believe in the existence of Satan or the supernatural.” TST claims it has a Boston area membership of 2,449 people. (SOURCE)
