As usual, R.U.M.P.S. (Radicals Undermining Mountain People's Security) had planned the event months in advance. The unknown is how they will be received. Until now, it has never been a problem. Oh, there are the usual local road-side hecklers. Every campaign has those. This time was different, they seemed organized -- as if they were being controlled by an outside force... or worse, they actually cared.
One of the protesters, Lucas Shlook, told us, "The response was completely out of proportion and unexpected. I don't know why we were being harrassed, this was a peaceful march to shut down a coal mine. All we want is to end to coal use in America, why would Coal Miners be so angry? Do they know we are here to help them? They were shouting at us and showing us their middle finger! We came to prevent them from earning a living, is that any reason to be so mean?"
The Police arrived as expected and told the protesters to leave the Hobet Mine since it was private property and contained hazards to untrained individuals. Many R.U.M.P.S. protesters left as ordered but in doing so, left twenty of their own behind to face the cold, unknown.
Those that stayed behind tell a harrowing tale. "The police spoke sternly to us and didn't give us any options," said R.U.M.P.S. activist, Skyar Rainbow Jones. "It was horrible! I hadn't been treated like that since I attended Vacation Bible School. Rule Nazis are all the same -- Do this! Don't do that! Wash your hands! Say please! The fascists have taken over America!"
Officer, Stan Down said, "As soon as I turned the guys around to put the cuffs on them, the short-haired one blurts out, 'It burns! It burns us! It freezes! Nasty cops twisted it. Take it off us!'. The thing is, I hadn't even put the cuffs on yet."
The saga grew as details trickled out via Twitter and Facebook posts.
At first, there was talk about how well the State Police treated them, and how they were even "able to strike up dialog" with some of the miners "something that has never happened".
The tale grew darker as they allege to being taken and kept in a field in Madison for hours. "Sunlight and fresh air isn't something we are used to," said one arrested protester from the inside. "I'll be filing charges of cruel and unusual punishment!"
Then it leaked (do they have facebook access in prison?) that R.U.M.P.S. leader, Peele, was "taken out of his cell and beaten until he couldn't stand." The next day that story changed to "he was dragged across the asphalt at the Boone County jail."
TheDiggerer will continue to investigate these allegations into police brutality. Judging by the changing of the stories and possible escalating violence, we might expect to be told next that he was attacked by Mamie and Jesco White at the Drawdy Mountain bar.
Stay tuned...
