Fox News and Commentary radio host Todd Starnes delivered a hallmark speech in defense of religious liberty Thursday night in Billings, Montana. Starnes brought the sold out crowd to their feet as the keynote speaker for the Montana Family Foundation banquet at the Northern Hotel.
I caught up with Starnes after his speech for a sit down interview. He says religious freedom, and not same-sex marriage, is THE civil rights battle of our time. Anytime you hear non-discrimination, “hold on to your seat,” says Starnes.
Click below to listen:
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Photo from Northern Hotel in Billings, Montana. From left to right: Ameriprise Financial Advisor Ty Vogele, RightNow Technologies Founder Greg Gianforte, Fox News’ Todd Starnes, and Aaron Flint.
Great speech by @toddstarnes w/ @FoxNews & commentary in Montana last night.He joins me on air-906 AM mountain #tcot pic.twitter.com/IB8spq1ubM
— Aaron Flint (@aaronflint) October 24, 2014
What a great turnout last night in Billings, Montana! Packed house and we sold out of God Less America!
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) October 24, 2014
The morning after Starnes delivered a stunning portrayal depicting the attacks on Christians and religious freedoms across the country, Montanans were met with fresh headlines of what may be yet another attack on a Bozeman Christian school.
As KTVQ-TV reports: Early morning fire reported at Bozeman’s Heritage Christian School
Fire crews responded to a reported fire at Heritage Christian school in Bozeman early Friday morning. A fire in the school’s gym two years ago was investigated as arson and closed the school for several months.
The MCAA volleyball tournament, which was scheduled to be held at Heritage Christian, has been moved.
It was just last year that the FBI was offering a reward to lead to the arrests of anyone involved in multiple attacks on churches in the Bozeman area.
FLASHBACK: FBI Offers Up to $5,000 Reward for Information Concerning Hate Crime in Bozeman, Montana
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest, and conviction of the person or persons who vandalized three churches in Bozeman, Montana. The FBI is investigating the matters as a hate crime due to the sheer volume of profane anti-religious graffiti and acts of arson discovered inside the churches. In addition, suspects are facing potential state felony charges associated with arson, burglary, and defacing a religious institution.
The first incident occurred on March 9, 2013, at the Kirkwood Baptist Church on 309 North 15th Avenue in Bozeman. The second incident occurred on April 7, 2013, at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church on 220 West Main Street in Bozeman. The third incident occurred on August 15, 2013, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on 1316 S 5th Ave in Bozeman. The churches were broken into during the late evening or early morning hours. Inside the churches, anti-religious statements were spray-painted, multiple fires were set, religious items were desecrated, and significant property damage occurred.
Anyone who has information about the incidents or the person or persons who committed these acts is asked to contact the FBI’s Bozeman Office at (406) 994-0927, the Bozeman Police Department at (406) 582-2010, or the Montana State University Police at (406) 994-2121 or to e-mail tips to the FBI Salt Lake City Division, which covers Montana, at SaltLakeCity@ic.fbi.gov.
Photo below courtesy of the 2013 FBI webpage documenting church vandalism in Bozeman, Montana.
