Idaho’s history of religious fear goes back decades

Fear and discrimination against different religious groups has a long history in Idaho, reports Ryan Struyk of the Associated Press, from hostility toward Mormon settlers dating back to the first days of Idaho Territory in the late 1800s, to resistance to Catholic immigrants, including Basques, in the 1920s. Most recently, three Idaho senators boycotted a Hindu prayer that was offered to open a Senate session this year, and Republicans in various parts of the state are fanning fears of the state’s Muslim population. You can read Struyk’s full report here .