The leader of the Kootenai County Constitution Party says people should be outraged by a statue of a Hindu god that's now on display on Sherman Avenue in Coeur d'Alene.

At 5:30 p.m. Friday Christians were encouraged to protest the dedication of the new art on loan program ArtCurrents. On the Kootenai County Constitution Party's website, they called the sculpture of the Hindu god a demon.

A handful of people showed up, with signs with messages like idol veneration is demon worshiping.

They have an issue with the Lord Ganesha statue on Sherman avenue. An organizer wants that statue taken down but wouldn't comment any further.

The city was looking at ArtCurrents as way to "get art in the downtown area of Coeur d'Alene at little expense to the city," according to Steve Anthony with the city of Coeur d'Alene.

Lord Ganesha, is a Hindu god representing good luck and education.

On the local Constitution Party's website they wrote: "Christians of Kootenai County should be dismayed at the appearance of a Hindu demon, Ganesh statue."

On the web post it calls those that manage the art in the city "A godless group of individuals," urging Christians to protest at the art current's dedication Friday. Even though the posts are on the Kootenai County Constitution Party website, we're told the protest is not on behalf of the party.

"We're not looking at it as a religious symbol, we're just looking at it as a piece of art," Steve Anthony said.

The protest was met with protest, some people were holding up signs in support of freedom of religion.

15 sculptures have been placed around the city, including two of them with Christian references and another with a Native American reference.

Some people are a little surprised by this reaction from the Constitution Party.

"To me that's what American values are, tolerance of other people," Rick Silverman said.

Others, on the other hand, realize religion is a touchy subject.

"If there was a statue of a Virgin Mary I'm sure someone would be out here protesting it. Am I crazy about getting on board? No. It doesn't bother me," Noel Piercy said.

"Art is a kind of freedom of expression and one of our rights and everybody's taste are different. I guess that's what makes art controversial," Anthony said.

The national field director for the Constitution Party was contacted and he said he didn't know about this protest until contacted by the media.

He says it wasn't sanctioned or promoted by the national Constitution Party.