Satanic Temple loses court battle over placing monument in Belle Plaine [View all]

The Satanic Temple has lost its court battle with the city of Belle Plaine four years after the religious group attempted to put a monument in the local Veterans Memorial Park.

The temple asserted in two separate lawsuits that the southwest metro city had violated its rights to free speech and free expression of religion, among other objections. But a federal judge dismissed most of those allegations in 2020 and decided in September that the city didn't breach a contract when it revoked the temple's permit to install the monument.

Belle Plaine is pleased with the court's decision, said Dawn Meyer, city administrator.

"Don't pick a fight you can't win — and that's what happened here," City Council Member Paul Chard said. "It's too bad it had to get this far."

The court's ruling came by summary judgment, not a trial.

Read more: https://www.startribune.com/satanic-temple-loses-court-battle-over-placing-monument-in-belle-plaine/600104852/