Satanists to rally in support of Gov. Rick Scott | Politics - WPBF Home

Satanists are planning to rally in support of Gov. Rick Scott at the steps of his office in Tallahassee later this month.

Lucien Greaves, spokesman for The Satanic Temple, told WPBF.com on Monday that a rally is planned for Jan. 25.
Greaves said the rally is to show support for Scott's signing of Senate Bill 98, authorizing "district school boards to adopt resolutions that allow prayers" by students at school events.

Neil Bricke, founder of The Satanic Temple, will speak at the rally, Greaves said.

"It's really difficult to say" how many Satanists will attend the rally, Greaves said.

"We've gotten such a response, it's just impossible for me to know what that translates into," Greaves said.

The Satanic Temple, which formed in 2012, is "more or less an online community," Greaves said, although there are plans to form a base of operations somewhere in New York.

Greaves said members of The Satanic Temple "have a sense of civic responsibility" and would like to share their beliefs about "this side of theology" in the same way as Christians and Jews.

"We feel it's time for Satanists to come out and say exactly who we are," Greaves said.

According to The Satanic Temple's website, Satanists "are popularly demonized as a result of misunderstandings, intolerance and fear-mongering opportunism." It goes on to say that Satan "has the compassion and wisdom of an angel."
Greaves said Satanists view Satan as compassionate as other people view their God.

"The name Satan resonates with a lot of people," Greaves said.

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