Illinois officials have allowed The Temple of Satan to erect the statue in the festively decorated hall of the local Capitol, between the Christmas tree and the Jewish seven-branched candlestick. This was reported by Fox 2 TV channel. The sculpture depicts a woman's hand holding an apple. A snake wraps around the arm. Below the statue is highlighted in red, and the inscription on the pedestal reads “Knowledge is the Greatest Gift”. The purpose of its installation The Satanic Temple in Chicago calls "the promotion of goodwill and empathy among all people."
According to state government spokesman Dave Drucker, Satanists have the same right to decorate the Capitol as any other religious group. He stressed that the authorities have no right to censor the festive decorations, since the hall is a public space and the state does not pay for its preparation for the holidays. The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield is a historic building that houses the Office of the State Governor and the Illinois General Assembly.
The Satanic Temple is a religious and political organization that uses Satanic symbols to fight for equality, social justice and freedom of religion. According to its members, they don't actually worship the devil. In August 2018, its representatives in Arkansas demanded the installation of a statue of the demon Baphomet in the square next to the State Capitol.