Satan Wants In — Hartford’s Christian Flag Stunt Draws Fire

In a formal request to Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, Stevens demanded the city also fly his flag, a cleanly designed banner bearing the message:

Last week, Hartford raised a Christian flag above City Hall. That move triggered a swift—and legally pointed—response from none other than Dr. T. Chaz Stevens, founder of the Church of Satanology and Perpetual Soirée.

“Satan Loves the First Amendment.”

Why? Because Shurtleff v. Boston (2022) made it crystal clear: when governments open public forums for religious expression, they can’t pick favorites.

“All or none,” Stevens told the Courant. “If you play a stupid game, you’re going to win stupid prizes.”

Stevens, a self-described “professional troublemaker” and First Amendment tactician, isn’t bluffing. He’s fresh off a federal lawsuit against Broward County Public Schools, which reversed its church-banner policy after Stevens challenged it—pro se.

City council members in Hartford are already scrambling. Councilman Josh Michtom (a lawyer) warned, “We should have stayed out of the business of endorsing religion… the law is on his side.”

Councilwoman Maly Rosado acknowledged that similar Christian flag raisings have happened in Bridgeport, New Britain, Torrington, and Waterbury. Stevens is now calling each city out in turn, demanding equal access for his message of ironic resistance and legal precision.

“It’s not by accident that the word Satanology is on there,” Stevens said. “It’s supposed to make you uncomfortable. Because now, they have to play by the same rules they wrote.”

If cities deny his request? Stevens says he’s ready to sue—and he’s crowdfunding the fight at revolt.training/donate.

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