Chaz Stevens, from South Florida, has asked the Lake County Commission to perform a satanic invocation at their meeting, according to My Acts of Sedition.
Stevens, 51, said that he is trying to persuade elected officials to do one of two things: either drop prayers prior to meetings or allow him to lead a prayer and ask for blessings from the devil. he called this project the "Satan or Silence Project."
Stevens is using a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states, "public bodies to make a reasonable effort to include all community members, regardless of faith - or lack of it - in deciding who can give opening invocations."
Stevens has been calling himself a "minion of Satan," according to Daily Readlist.
"At best, it [the invocation] is going to be solemn and right to the occasion, but it might very well raise the dead," he said Thursday. "I mean think about it. We're talking about Satan."
Commission Chairman Jimmy Conner has expressed that he has zero interest in allowing Stevens request.
"There won't be any satanic prayers while I'm chairman," Conner said, according to Orlando Sentinel. "The man isn't going to bully me. If he hates God, he can do that. But we're not going to spread devil worshipping in our chamber."
Stevens has remained committed to his goal, having sent an email to Michael Bornstein, the Lake Worth City Manager.
"Mr. Bornstein; My name is Chaz Stevens, father of the Pabst Blue Ribbon Festivus Pole," the letter reads. "I'd like permission to give a Satanic, yes Satan, invocation at an upcoming City Commission meeting. Everyone is welcome to sing along, or as is the recent case when Miami atheist activist Preston Smith gave the invocation, like Elvis, they can leave the building."
Stevens says that if Lake County denies his request, then he will look into avenues of suing.
