At Ottawa County’s Fillmore Complex, shouts of “hail Satan” clashed with declarations of “we love Jesus” in a packed foyer on Tuesday.

Commissioner Rebekah Curran distributed cookies with the Bible verse John 3:16 amidst a fervent atmosphere.

Chaos erupted in an overflow viewing room as a member of The Satanic Temple of West Michigan delivered the invocation to start the meeting.

This tumultuous start follows a policy change allowing pastors to address commissioners, spurred by a lawsuit from an LGBTQ activist pastor.

The invocation was seen as a test of Ottawa County’s commitment to protecting individual rights, the Midwesterner has reported.

Opinions varied among attendees, with some supporting free speech for temple members while others condemned the move.

The controversy is the latest in a series of clashes involving commissioners backed by Ottawa Impact, a political action committee seeking to push back against government restrictions.

Written by B.C. Begley