Christians Protest Outside of Satanic Temple’s ‘Family-Friendly’ Library Event

Dozens of protestors reportedly gathered outside a public library in Southern California while The Satanic Temple held a back-to-school event inside.

The “family-friendly” event, a part of the temple’s “After School Satan Club,” featured arts and crafts along with science experiments according to local news outlet FOX 11 Los Angeles on Friday.

The temple's back-to-school event was reportedly held at the Lancaster Library in the Californian city of Lancaster, about a 70-mile drive north of Los Angeles. 

The Satanic Temple claims the event and its associated after-school club activities aren’t meant to reinforce beliefs or introduce religion to kids, but rather meant to promote rational thinking, according to FOX 11. However, Christian protestors reportedly did not see it that way.

"I just want people to know that the Satanic Temple... we are about personal liberty and free rational inquiry. We’re not worshiping the devil or anything like that. We’re just trying to have fun and help the children have a good time," Satanic Temple spokesperson René Grigori told the news station.

One protestor, who FOX 11 says spoke with one of its photographers at the scene of the protest, said that those protesting were “representing Jesus Christ. The Lord and Savior.”

“We’re not trying to have the enemy destroy this town,” the protestor reportedly said. “We got enough issues here, in Jesus Name!"

The protestors reportedly believe The Satanic Temple is attempting to entice children to turn away from Christianity. The temple's after-school club has said it only operates and plans events in places where other religious groups already operate to provide a safe alternative to kids.

“The After School Satan Club does not believe in introducing religion into public schools and will only open a club if other religious groups are operating on campus,” The Satanic Temple says on its website. “ASSC exists to provide a safe and inclusive alternative to the religious clubs that use threats of eternal damnation to convert school children to their belief system.”

“Unlike our counterparts, who publicly measure their success in young children's ‘professions of faith,’ the After School Satan Club program focuses on science, critical thinking, creative arts, and good works for the community,” the temple adds. “While engaged in all of these activities, we want clubgoers to have a good time.”

A spokesperson for the Lancaster School District told FOX 11 that the district doesn’t explicitly support The Satanic Temple or its after-school club, but they were under obligation to share that the event was taking place with families in their district.