TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - “The display means happy holidays from the satanic temple." The co-founder for the satanic temple is speaking out.
Plus, surveillance video of the incident is released.
Video of the Satanic Display at Tallahassee’s Capitol is seen on surveillance video being taken down.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement came into contact with Susan Hemeryck while she was attempting to take down the display.
Officers say she told them, she was sorry and had to take it down, because it was quote, "not right."
One of the officers stopped Hemeryck and started to place the display back in its original location, meanwhile the other officer advised her to not take or damage the display because it was violation of the law.
Hemeryck told them she could not stand it anymore, and continued to go after the display, ripping it apart.
Lucien greaves, a spokesperson and co-founder for Satanic Temple, believes anyone should be able to put up their holiday displays. He said, "Of course it's very polarized reactions for the most part, across the banner at the top is a message of happy holidays from the satanic temple and we're putting it out during the holiday season to recognize that nobody holds a monopoly on the celebratory spirit."
Hemeryck was stopped once again and escorted away from the display.
After she refused to leave the display alone, Hemeryck was placed under arrest for criminal mischief.
The Satanic Temple, a New York-based group that doesn't really worship the devil, put up its diorama in the entry rotunda of Florida’s capitol on Monday.
The falling angel, was barred a year ago from the capitol when deemed "grossly offensive" by the Department of Management Services.
A Tallahassee resident and member of the Satanic Temple said the group threatened legal action this year if it was again blocked.
In reaction to the glut of holiday display applications this year, the state did impose a new seven day timeline for items put up in the rotunda.
The applicant faces a $100 a day fine if the display remains after its week.
