Judge Orders Iowa to Allow Satanic Temple Event

Chief District Judge Stephanie M Rose ordered Iowa to approve a Satanic Temple holiday event in the Capitol rotunda within seven days, after years of denials. The judge says the group is likely to win its free speech claim, and the state now has a federal judge doing its event scheduling. Around my place, the county commission can't even pick a date for the Christmas parade. The plan is caroling, ornament making, coloring for the kids and Krampus costumes, which is a whole other can of worms for the statehouse calendar. The attorney general's office says state Republicans intend to appeal, and I'd guess the appeals court will have a few opinions about who runs the rotunda. Pass the popcorn and the Constitution.

“It is a foundational principle that the government cannot restrict speech in this way”Shefali Aurora, ACLU of Iowa staff attorney, via The Guardian