In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, former Fox Sports broadcaster Craig James, who was allegedly fired for his religious perspective on same-sex marriage, spoke out, telling Breitbart News that he would not stop fighting until he got answers from Fox Sports about their alleged discrimination.
“If Fox Sports has learned anything from me, it’s that I’m not going to take a punch to the face and give up,” James said. “I’m going to see justice through on this.”
Hiram Sasser, James’ attorney with the Liberty Institute, added, “I think at the very least he’s owed an explanation. Where’s the explanation, where’s the justification? Why aren’t they talking?” James said that Fox Sports was hiding behind the corporate façade and hoping to play for time. “The occurrence might pass,” he said, “but the impact will be forever felt by the individual and society. We have to avoid letting things slide on by, because suddenly a slide becomes policy.” Sasser added, “Fox Sports is just trying to ride this thing out and hope this all goes away. But you can’t go around torching people’s reputation in public, and then hope that something in the news cycle wipes it out of American’s mind. That’s not an appropriate way to do business or treat people.”
A public groundswell on behalf of James has been building since Fox Sports first reported news of James’ demand letter to Fox Sports about his firing. Organizations ranging from the Family Research Council to the American Family Association have called on Fox Sports to reinstate James. Last week, Collin County commissioner Matt Shaheen wrote a letter to Fox Sports urging the company to return James to his position and ripping the company’s “lack of respect for religious liberty.”
“The people are there to hold them responsible by sending complaints, letters, phone calls,” said Sasser. “There is accountability for their actions. Liberty Institute will hold their feet to the fire.”
November 5 marks the date of the first legal hearing over the case, which will take place in Collin County. “Some of those involved at Fox Sports have already been served,” Sasser explained. “The clock is ticking for them. They have an opportunity to respond and be heard. We’re looking forward to seeing what their response is. They floated the story out there that they fired hims because of his statements about marriage, which were part of his religious beliefs. They put that out there. They owe an explanation. We’re looking forward to hearing their explanation. They wanted to silence Craig. We don’t want to silence them. We want them to come to the public table and tell us what is going on.”
James stated, “This isn’t about me individually. People might not care for me as a broadcaster. This is about what has happened to a religious individual in America. It’s given me a sense of responsibility for others who may be in my same position who may not be in a position to stand up and fight.”
Ben Shapiro is Editor-At-Large of Breitbart News and author of the New York Times bestseller “Bullies: How the Left’s Culture of Fear and Intimidation Silences America” (Threshold Editions, January 8, 2013).
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