- Hundreds of people turned out tonight
for the unveiling of a very controversial statue.
- Yeah, it really is.
The Satanic Temple of Detroit revealed the one ton bronze statue.
Their message, they say, more about laws protecting
religious freedom than about Satan.
Priya Mann joins us live.
Priya, I know there was some protesters out there this evening.
Did the event remain calm?
- See, Sandor, Detroit police say this was a relatively peaceful event.
There were a few protesters early on
that tried blocking the doors so people couldn't get in to get tickets.
They were told to step back, which they did.
The same statue will be unveiled tonight at a secret location.
- (reporter) As a small group of protesters prayed,
hundreds waited for tickets to the unveiling
of an eight foot tall bronze statue of a goat-headed Satan.
Most of the people here agree with the teachings
of this Satanic temple, the group responsible for the event.
- It's here, it's in Detroit, and this is fantastic.
We get to experience this
and we get to see this amazing statue
being unveiled for all the world to see.
- I'm just excited to see my Lord and Savior, Behemoth,
represented in such glory as Italian stone.
I do hope his eyes gaze upon me,
and that my allegiance is recognized.
I don't know-- notice me, senpai!
Notice me!
(crowd murmuring)
- (protester 1) Jesus!
- (protester 2) Lord, remove--
- (reporter) Protesters took the heavy rainfall
as some sort of sign and even brought their own statue
of an angel crushing the devil.
- Part of me wishes that angel statue would come to life
and King Behemoth would rise,
and two eternal juggernauts would do battle
right here in the middle of the city.
But for what is this battle raging, you ask?
I dunno.
What stands at the center?
To that, I say, "My soul is at the center,
offered up to the ageless ones, only to be torn in twain."
- (reporter) The unveiling here in Detroit is historic.
The Satan statue has never before been seen publicly.
The Satanic temple says the statue is a symbol for what they advocate:
the separation of Church and State.
- It's like you can't have one without the other, you know?
Like I'm equal parts God and the Devil;
a cloak of shame covers this man
and only supreme light will wash my body clean.
But how could that light possibly reach me
with the thick clouds of indecency that surround my poor soul?
So I carry my wrong-doings on my back
like some kind of tormented hiker,
lost in the hills of misfortune,
looking desperately for that peak to rescue him from the valley
of depraved, habitual self-pleasuring.
But again, I find nothing except for sweaty, devastated loneliness
and a thousand judging eyes staring back at me
from the cover of a stolen Victoria's Secret catalogue.
I didn't take your mail, Mrs. Pemberton!
Stop asking me that!
(shrilly) Leave me alone!!!
(crowd murmurs)
Satan's pretty cool.
- Now, it's important to know that the Satan statue
will not stay here in Detroit.
The Satanic temple wants to take the statue to Arkansas.
The state capitol there, there is a monument
to the Ten Commandments.
They want to put the statue next to it as a form of protest.
So again, the Satan statue will not stay here in Detroit.
Reporting live, I'm Priya Mann, Local 4.
- My, the controversy will move South.
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